| |
| |
|
|
R E S O L U T I O N
|
|
|
WHEREAS, Across this state and nation, people who wage the |
|
|
fight for social justice are mourning the loss of Frederick Martin |
|
|
Baron of Dallas, who passed away on October 30, 2008, at the age of |
|
|
61; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in 1947, Mr. Baron moved |
|
|
to Smithville when he was 15; an outstanding student and football |
|
|
star in high school, he went on to attend The University of Texas at |
|
|
Austin, where he earned a B.A. in 1968 and a J.D. in 1971; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Inspired by consumer advocate Ralph Nader, Mr. Baron |
|
|
went to work after law school at the Dallas-based firm of Mullinax, |
|
|
Wells, Mauzy & Baab, which represented labor unions and union |
|
|
workers; in 1974, he filed a major case concerning asbestos |
|
|
exposure at an East Texas plant, a suit that eventually resulted in |
|
|
an award of $20 million and that helped establish his reputation as |
|
|
an able and tenacious attorney; Mr. Baron formed his own firm, now |
|
|
known as Baron & Budd, in 1977 to represent victims of occupational |
|
|
diseases and industrial pollution; over the course of a more than |
|
|
30-year career, his formidable skills and passionate engagement |
|
|
would make him a national leader in the field of asbestos and other |
|
|
toxic-tort litigation; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Mr. Baron's commitment to the cause of worker and |
|
|
consumer safety was evident, as well, in his professional |
|
|
affiliations; he cofounded Trial Lawyers for Public Justice in 1982 |
|
|
and served as president of that group from 1997 to 1998; other |
|
|
organizations to benefit from his involvement were the Association |
|
|
of Trial Lawyers of America, which he served as president, and the |
|
|
American Constitution Society for Law and Policy, of which he was a |
|
|
founding board member; in addition, he was a staunch supporter of |
|
|
Public Citizen and People for the American Way; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Fred Baron stepped down from his firm in December |
|
|
2002 to focus his efforts on politics and charitable causes; he |
|
|
played a major role in raising funds for the Kerry/Edwards ticket in |
|
|
2004, and he served as national finance chair for John Edwards in |
|
|
both of his runs for the presidency; in 2005, Mr. Baron founded the |
|
|
Texas Democratic Trust, which has greatly assisted the state's |
|
|
Democratic Party; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Together with his wife, Lisa Blue-Baron, Fred Baron |
|
|
created the Baron and Blue Foundation, which works with area |
|
|
organizations to eliminate homelessness and address the needs of |
|
|
the underserved; the couple also gave over the first floor of their |
|
|
home to religious, philanthropic, and cultural organizations, |
|
|
welcoming their fund-raisers and other events; the depth of Mr. |
|
|
Baron's empathy for those in distress was demonstrated yet again in |
|
|
the wake of Hurricane Katrina, when he spent many days at Reunion |
|
|
Arena taking food and other supplies to the refugees there, |
|
|
listening to their stories, and helping them in whatever way he |
|
|
could; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, The recipient of myriad accolades, this |
|
|
distinguished Texan was named a "Legal Legend" by Texas Lawyer, |
|
|
designated one of the "100 Most Influential Lawyers in the U.S." by |
|
|
the National Law Journal, and presented with an Outstanding Service |
|
|
Award by the William Wayne Justice Center for Public Interest Law at |
|
|
The University of Texas School of Law; in 2001, his alma mater |
|
|
established the Frederick M. Baron Chair in Law in recognition of |
|
|
his contributions to the school and his remarkable accomplishments; |
|
|
and |
|
|
WHEREAS, The impact of Fred Baron's life extended far and |
|
|
wide; he fought relentlessly for the safety of ordinary citizens, |
|
|
gave abundantly of his resources in behalf of others, and sought to |
|
|
ensure that government would also serve those less fortunate, and |
|
|
he will indeed be missed; now, therefore, be it |
|
|
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas |
|
|
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Frederick Martin |
|
|
Baron and extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to |
|
|
his wife, Lisa Blue-Baron; to his children, Andrew Baron, Courtney |
|
|
Baron and her husband, Brad Singer, and Alessandra, Caroline, and |
|
|
Nathalie Baron; to his granddaughter, Liza; to his brother, Robert |
|
|
Baron, and his sister, Joan Baron; 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 Frederick |
|
|
Martin Baron. |