TITLE: Congratulating Judge Royal Furgeson on his appointment as dean of the UNT Dallas College of Law.

SUMMARY: Congratulating Judge Royal Furgeson on his appointment as dean of the UNT Dallas College of Law.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, The Honorable Judge W. Royal Furgeson, Jr., is beginning his service as the founding dean of the College of Law of the University of North Texas System in May 2013 to prepare for the program's opening in the fall of 2014; and WHEREAS, Judge Furgeson is the senior United States district judge in the Northern District of Texas and has been a federal judge for more than 18 years; in addition, he serves as a panel judge on the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation; previously, this distinguished Texan served in the El Paso, Midland-Odessa, and San Antonio Divisions of the Western District and was a practicing lawyer for 24 years with the Kemp, Smith, Duncan & Hammond Law Firm in El Paso; and WHEREAS, Active in his professional community, Judge Furgeson is president of the Federal Judges Association, a member of the Judicial Branch Committee of the Judicial Conference of the United States, a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, and a member of the American Law Institute; moreover, he has been president of the El Paso United Way, the El Paso chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates, and the El Paso Bar Association and has chaired the Judicial Resources Committee of the Judicial Conference of the United States; and WHEREAS, In recognition of his notable accomplishments, Judge Furgeson has received numerous accolades during his career, including the Distinguished Alumnus Award from the Texas Tech Alumni Association, the West Texas Legal Legend Award from the Texas Tech University School of Law, the 2010 Distinguished Counselor Award from the State Bar of Texas Antitrust and Business Litigation Section, the Luke Soules Award from the State Bar of Texas Litigation Section, the Leon Green Award from the Texas Law Review, and the Faculty Award from The University of Texas School of Law; and WHEREAS, A Lubbock native, Judge Furgeson received his bachelor of arts degree in English from Texas Tech University and earned his law degree from The University of Texas School of Law, where he was an associate editor of the Texas Law Review;following law school, he served in the U.S. Army in Vietnam and attained the rank of captain; and WHEREAS, Judge Furgeson has an impressive record of service and professional achievement that will greatly benefit the new UNT Dallas College of Law as it opens its doors, and he may reflect with justifiable pride on his accomplishments; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas Legislature hereby congratulate Judge Royal Furgeson on his appointment as the inaugural dean of the UNT Dallas College of Law and extend to him sincere best wishes for continued success; and, be it further RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for Judge Furgeson as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. Anchia Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 1445 was adopted by the House on April 24, 2013, by a non-record vote. Chief Clerk of the House