By Hunter of Taylor H.R. No. 135 74R4994 PFG-D R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, The State of Texas has lost a distinguished Texan 1-2 with the passing of an esteemed former member of the legislature, 1-3 Bill Tippen, on April 15, 1994, at the age of 71; and 1-4 WHEREAS, Born September 6, 1922, in Brownwood, Mr. Tippen 1-5 moved to Abilene as a child and was graduated from Hardin-Simmons 1-6 University in 1943; and 1-7 WHEREAS, While a young man, this patriotic gentleman served 1-8 in the Counter Intelligence Corps with the Fifth Army in Italy and 1-9 Austria during World War II and was awarded the Bronze Star for his 1-10 meritorious service; and 1-11 WHEREAS, After the war, he returned to Texas where he married 1-12 the former Elsie Murphree, beginning an extraordinarily happy union 1-13 that would last for more than four decades; and 1-14 WHEREAS, Mr. Tippen was elected to serve as a member of the 1-15 Texas House of Representatives in 1947 at the age of 25 and 1-16 distinguished himself throughout two terms in office while 1-17 simultaneously attending law school at The University of Texas at 1-18 Austin; and 1-19 WHEREAS, During his tenure in the house, Mr. Tippen 1-20 contributed valuable leadership as vice chairman of the 1-21 Congressional and Legislative Districts Committee and lent 1-22 judicious input as a member of several other key committees, 1-23 including the Criminal Jurisprudence Committee and the Education 1-24 Committee; and 2-1 WHEREAS, Having completed his law degree in 1949, he soon won 2-2 election to the office of Taylor County Attorney and, after an 2-3 exemplary tenure in this post, assumed the responsibilities of 2-4 district attorney of the 104th District, in which capacity he 2-5 earned high praise for his extensive knowledge and fair 2-6 dispensation of the law; and 2-7 WHEREAS, Embarking on a successful career in private practice 2-8 in 1956, this esteemed attorney cofounded a highly respected 2-9 Abilene law firm with his longtime partner, Bryan Bradbury, and 2-10 served as president of the Abilene Bar Association from 1968 to 2-11 1969; and 2-12 WHEREAS, Mr. Tippen returned to public service in 1972 after 2-13 winning a special election to fill an unexpired term in the Texas 2-14 Senate; noted for his experience in criminal justice matters, he 2-15 was appointed by the governor to serve a six-year term as a member 2-16 of the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and 2-17 Education the following year; and 2-18 WHEREAS, Mr. Tippen took great pride in his alma mater and 2-19 was awarded Hardin-Simmons University's highest accolade, the John 2-20 J. Keeter Award, and an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree for his 2-21 countless hours of service in behalf of the institution as chairman 2-22 and longtime member of its board of trustees; active in the local 2-23 community as well, Mr. Tippen donated his time to the benefit of 2-24 many civic organizations and was an involved member of the Abilene 2-25 Rotary Club and the University Baptist Church, where he served as a 2-26 deacon and taught the men's Sunday school class for many years; and 2-27 WHEREAS, Throughout his active and fulfilling life, Bill 3-1 Tippen adhered to the highest personal and professional standards 3-2 and greatly benefited his fellow citizens through his public 3-3 service and his active community involvement; though his wisdom and 3-4 compassion will be sorely missed by all who knew him, his spirit 3-5 will long endure through the lasting legacy of achievement he 3-6 leaves behind; now, therefore, be it 3-7 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 74th Texas 3-8 Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Bill Tippen and 3-9 extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to his wife, 3-10 Elsie; to his children, Jana Nelson, Kent Tippen, and Kevin Tippen; 3-11 to his sister, Norma Sue Tippen McCann; to his brother, Forrest W. 3-12 Tippen; to his aunts, Ollie Tippen Cutbirth and Della Tippen King; 3-13 and to his many other relatives and friends; and, be it further 3-14 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 3-15 prepared for the members of his family and that when the Texas 3-16 House of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of 3-17 Bill Tippen.