Bill Text: TX SR402 | 2017-2018 | 85th Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: In memory of Jack Pope.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2017-03-09 - Reported enrolled [SR402 Detail]
Download: Texas-2017-SR402-Enrolled.html
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In Memory | ||
of | ||
Jack Pope | ||
WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas joins citizens | ||
across the state in mourning the loss of the Honorable Jack Pope, | ||
a beloved and revered citizen who died on February 25, 2017, at | ||
the age of 103; and | ||
WHEREAS, Jack Pope was born on April 18, 1913, in Abilene, | ||
and graduated from the Abilene public school system; in 1934, | ||
he earned a bachelor of arts degree from Abilene Christian | ||
University, and in 1937, he earned a law degree from The | ||
University of Texas at Austin, where he was editor of the Texas | ||
Law Review; and | ||
WHEREAS, While in Austin, Jack met Allene Nichols, a fellow | ||
recent graduate; they married on June 11, 1938, and they soon | ||
moved to Corpus Christi; Jack began practicing law with his | ||
uncle, W. E. Pope, but like so many patriots, he postponed his | ||
career to serve his country during World War II; he joined the | ||
United States Navy and served with distinction as a cryptologist | ||
in Washington, D.C.; and | ||
WHEREAS, In 1964, he was elected to the Texas Supreme Court, | ||
and in 1982, Governor Bill Clements appointed him chief justice | ||
of the Texas Supreme Court; Justice Pope presided on the bench | ||
for 38 years and is among the longest-serving judges on the state's | ||
high courts; and | ||
WHEREAS, Among his many accomplishments on the bench, | ||
Justice Pope initiated new procedures for handling grievances | ||
against attorneys, promulgated the Texas Rules of Judicial | ||
Education, wrote the first jury handbook, and sponsored the | ||
creation of the Texas State Law Library; he worked with judicial | ||
colleagues to establish an Interest on Lawyers Trust Accounts | ||
program, which provides civil legal services to more than 100,000 | ||
poor families across Texas, and he was also considered an expert | ||
on matters of complex water laws in Texas and the southwestern | ||
United States; and | ||
WHEREAS, After he retired, he developed the Jack Pope Fellows | ||
Program at Abilene Christian University to provide scholarships | ||
to students interested in careers in public service; he has been | ||
honored as an Outstanding Alumnus of both Abilene Christian | ||
University and The University of Texas at Austin, and in 2010, | ||
the State Bar of Texas honored him with the Lifetime Achievement | ||
Award; and | ||
WHEREAS, Above all things, Jack prioritized matters of | ||
family; he shared 66 years of marriage with Allene, and he built | ||
on to their home to take care of his in-laws after Allene's father | ||
suffered a stroke; Jack was blessed with two children, three | ||
grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren, who were a source | ||
of immense pride and joy; and | ||
WHEREAS, Jack Pope was a highly respected member of the | ||
community, and he made immeasurable contributions to the Texas | ||
Judicial System; in 2014, the Texas Supreme Court Historical | ||
Society published Common Law Judge: Selected Writings of Chief | ||
Justice Jack Pope of Texas, a collection of essays and opinions | ||
and a biography of this truly distinguished Texan who has left | ||
behind a proud and lasting legacy in the Lone Star State; now, | ||
therefore, be it | ||
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 85th | ||
Legislature, hereby extend sincere condolences to the bereaved | ||
family of Jack Pope; and, be it further | ||
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for | ||
his family as an expression of deepest sympathy from the Texas | ||
Senate and that when the Senate adjourns this day, it do so in | ||
memory of Jack Pope. | ||
Watson | ||
________________________________ | ||
President of the Senate | ||
I hereby certify that the | ||
above Resolution was adopted by | ||
the Senate on March 9, 2017, by a | ||
rising vote. | ||
________________________________ | ||
Secretary of the Senate | ||
________________________________ | ||
Member, Texas Senate |