TITLE: In memory of the Honorable Ben Akers of Weatherford.

SUMMARY: In memory of the Honorable Ben Akers of Weatherford.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, The Lone Star State lost a distinguished jurist and public servant with the death of the Honorable Ben Akers, who passed away on July 10, 2014, at the age of 57; and WHEREAS, Charles Benjamin Akers was born in Leon, Iowa, on January 31, 1957, to Doug and Shirley Akers; he graduated from Simpson College in 1979 and later enrolled at the University of Houston Law School, where he received his juris doctorate in 1987; Judge Akers subsequently worked as a prosecutor in Nueces and Parker Counties before spending 17 years in private practice; he was board certified in both criminal law and estate planning and probate law, in addition to being licensed as a CPA; and WHEREAS, This esteemed Texan was first elected to public office in 2004, when the voters of Parker County selected him as judge of County Court at Law No. 2; widely respected for his fairness and impartiality, he won reelection in 2008 and 2012; and WHEREAS, Judge Akers was a member of the Springtown Optimist Club and a parishioner of Saint Francis of Assisi Church in Willow Park; a man of many interests, he was an avid car enthusiast as well as a master gardener; he also took great pleasure in spending time outdoors and listening to his favorite band, the Eagles; in all his endeavors, he enjoyed the love and support of his two children, Maggie and Mark Akers; and WHEREAS, Judge Ben Akers served the residents of Parker County with unwavering integrity and devotion, and his contributions to his community will not soon be forgotten; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of the Honorable Ben Akers and extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to his children, Maggie and Mark Akers; to his mother, Shirley Akers; to his siblings and their spouses, Debbra Dunn and her husband, Randy, Sandy Higdon and her husband, Dave, and Dan Akers and his wife, Veronica; and to his other relatives and many friends; and, be it further RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Judge Ben Akers. King of Parker Straus Guerra Otto Allen Guillen Paddie Alonzo Gutierrez Parker Alvarado Harless Paul Anchia Hernandez Pe a Anderson of Dallas Herrero Phelan Anderson of McLennan Howard Phillips Ashby Huberty Pickett Aycock Hughes Price Bell Hunter Raney Blanco Isaac Raymond Bohac Israel Reynolds Bonnen of Brazoria Johnson Riddle Bonnen of Galveston Kacal Rinaldi Burkett Keffer Rodriguez of Bexar Burns Keough Rodriguez of Travis Burrows King of Hemphill Romero, Jr. Button King of Parker Rose Canales King of Taylor Sanford Capriglione King of Uvalde Schaefer Clardy Klick Schofield Coleman Koop Shaheen Collier Krause Sheets Cook Kuempel Sheffield Craddick Landgraf Simmons Crownover Larson Simpson Dale Laubenberg Smith Darby Leach Smithee Davis of Dallas Longoria Spitzer Davis of Harris Lozano Springer Deshotel Lucio III Stephenson Dukes M rquez Stickland Dutton Martinez Thompson of Brazoria Elkins Martinez Fischer Thompson of Harris Faircloth McClendon Tinderholt Fallon Men ndez Turner of Collin Farias Metcalf Turner of Harris Farney Meyer Turner of Tarrant Farrar Miles VanDeaver Fletcher Miller of Comal Villalba Flynn Miller of Fort Bend Vo Frank Moody Walle Frullo Morrison White of Bell Galindo Mu oz, Jr. White of Tyler Geren Murphy Workman Giddings Murr Wray Goldman Naishtat Wu Gonzales Nev rez Zedler Gonz lez Oliveira Zerwas Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 451 was unanimously adopted by a rising vote of the House on February 26, 2015. Chief Clerk of the House