TITLE: Recognizing Bill Bass for receiving the Smith County Bar Foundation 2017 Justinian Award.

SUMMARY: Recognizing Bill Bass for receiving the Smith County Bar Foundation 2017 Justinian Award.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, Bill Bass, retired judge of the 12th Court of Appeals in Tyler, was presented with the 2017 Justinian Award by the Smith County Bar Foundation at its annual Law Day luncheon on April 26; and WHEREAS, This prestigious lifetime achievement award is bestowed each year on a Smith County attorney whose career is defined by an outstanding record of community service, legal ethics, and professionalism; and WHEREAS, Judge Bass graduated from Texas A&M University in 1955 and soon after was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Army; following his active duty service, which included a tour with NATO forces in Germany, he returned home to Van Zandt County, where he spent five years working on his family's farm in Martin's Mill before attending law school at Southern Methodist University; and WHEREAS, As a first-year law student, Judge Bass was elected state representative for Texas House District 12, and he went on to win two successive terms; over the course of his 1967 to 1973 legislative tenure, he served on the Agriculture, Military Affairs, and Public Health Committees, among others, and he also was a member of the ethics reform coalition known as the "Dirty 30"; and WHEREAS, This esteemed Texan went on to practice law for 16 years with the firm of Elliott & Bass, until he was appointed by Governor Mark White to the 12th Court of Appeals; twice winning election to that court, he also was named by the Texas Supreme Court as a member of the Texas Commission on Judicial Conduct; following his retirement, he has served as senior appellate judge; and WHEREAS, Deeply devoted to his community, Judge Bass has also lent his time and talents to the board of All Saints Episcopal School, the East Texas Symphony Orchestra, Historic Tyler, and Tyler Teen Court; moreover, he is an active congregant at Good Shepherd Reformed Episcopal Church; and WHEREAS, Through his dedication to the law and to his fellow citizens, Judge Bill Bass has gained the lasting respect and admiration of his peers, and he truly deserves special recognition for his many contributions to the Lone Star State; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 85th Legislature, 1st Called Session, hereby congratulate Judge Bill Bass on his receipt of the Smith County Bar Foundation 2017 Justinian Award and extend to him sincere best wishes for the future; and, be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for Judge Bass as an expression of high regard from the Texas Senate. Hughes President of the Senate I hereby certify that the above Resolution was adopted by the Senate on August 7, 2017.