[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 86 (Friday, June 26, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1244-E1245]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     IN RECOGNITION OF JOE TUNNELL

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. RALPH M. HALL

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 25, 1998

  Mr. HALL of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay my respects to a 
dedicated protector of the law and a fine American--Judge Joe Tunnell 
of Tyler, Texas--who died on June 9. Judge Tunnell also was a devoted 
father and husband, and he will be dearly missed by all those he 
touched in East Texas.
  Joe Tunnell, the son of a Van Zandt County, Texas farmer, was born 
June 4, 1918, and attended the Grand Saline school system. He earned 
his bachelor's degree and teaching certificate from North Texas State 
Teachers College. Upon graduation, he briefly taught high school before 
entering the U.S. Navy, where he served during World War II. Afterward, 
in 1948, he received his law degree from Southern Methodist University.
  In 1950, Mr. Tunnell was elected Van Zandt County District Attorney--
an office he held for eight years. He left Van Zandt County to become 
assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Texas and then 
briefly as interim U.S. Attorney before returning to private practice. 
In 1985 Mr. Tunnell was appointed to the 241st District Court bench, 
where he served until retirement in 1993. Judge Tunnell was known for 
his no-nonsense, tough, yet fair decisions, and for his genuine concern 
for people.
  Judge Tunnell lived his life in the same manner he handled decisions 
on the bench--with grace and dignity. He was also a long time member of 
Pollard Methodist Church. He is survived by his daughter and son-in-
law, Jo Ann Tunnell and Bill Atkins of Tyler; his two sons and 
daughters-in-law, T.R. Tunnell and Debbie Pool Tunnell, Dallas, and 
John W. Tunnell and Jackee Cox Tunnell of Huntington, Texas; as well as 
his three sisters and two grand sons, Matthew and Adam Tunnell. Mr. 
Speaker, as we adjourn today, let us do so in honor of and respect for 
this great American--the late Judge Joe Tunnell.

[[Page E1245]]



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