SR188 - In memory of L. Clifford Davis of Tarrant County.

        SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 188       In Memory   of   L. Clifford Davis            WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas joins the people   of Tarrant County in mourning the loss of the Honorable L.   Clifford Davis, who died February 15, 2025, at the age of 100; and            WHEREAS, Born October 12, 1924, and raised amidst the Great   Depression and Jim Crow segregation in Wilton, Arkansas, L.   Clifford Davis dedicated his life to fighting for civil rights   and ensuring justice for all; as a young man, he moved to Little   Rock with his older siblings to attend high school, and he went on   to earn a bachelor's and master's degree before pursuing his   ambition to study law; and            WHEREAS, Mr. Davis was accepted to Howard University   School of Law, but due to Howard's expense, he attended the   University of Arkansas Law School under conditions of complete   segregation; although he would complete his law degree at Howard   University, he paved the way for other Black students to enter   graduate programs in Arkansas, and he returned to his home state   to begin his law practice; and            WHEREAS, Using Brown v. Board of Education as a foundation,   Mr. Davis fought to desegregate schools in Arkansas, and in 1954,   he passed the Texas bar exam and became one of the few Black   attorneys working in Fort Worth; his efforts resulted in the   integration of the Mansfield and Fort Worth school districts; in   1977, he organized the Fort Worth Black Bar Association; and            WHEREAS, Judge Davis became the first appointed and elected   Black district court judge in Tarrant County, which he served from   1983 until 1988; he presided over the first drug diversion court in   Tarrant County and spent three decades as a visiting judge in North   Texas before returning to practice law; and            WHEREAS, During his 75 years as a licensed attorney,   Mr. Davis garnered many local, state, and national accolades for   his contributions to his community and to the legal field,   including the prestigious Blackstone Award from the Tarrant   County Bar Association and an honorary doctorate of law degree   from the University of Arkansas; a legal association and a Fort   Worth elementary school were named in his honor; and            WHEREAS, Above all, Mr. Davis found much fulfillment in his   role as a husband to his late wife, Ethel, for more than 50 years   and as a loving father to his daughters, Avis and Karen; he was a   devoted member of Saint Andrew's United Methodist Church; his   enthusiasm for mentoring lawyers and judges, providing pro bono   services, and encouraging young people in his community to pursue   higher education contributed to his legacy of community service and   advancing justice; and            WHEREAS, A man of integrity, courage, and generosity, L.   Clifford Davis's extraordinary contributions to civil rights will   long be remembered by our nation and by the people of the Lone Star   State; his remarkable life, his outstanding achievements, and his   dedication to serving others are a source of inspiration to many,   and his memory will be forever treasured by his loved ones and by   all who were privileged to share in his life; now, therefore, be it            RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 89th   Legislature, hereby extend sincere condolences to the bereaved   family of L. Clifford Davis; and, be it further            RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for   his family as an expression of deepest sympathy from the Texas   Senate, and that when the Senate adjourns this day, it do so in   memory of Judge Davis.     West                 ________________________________          President of the Senate               I hereby certify that the     above Resolution was adopted by     the Senate on March 4, 2025, by a     rising vote.                 ________________________________          Secretary of the Senate                 ________________________________           Member, Texas Senate