HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 1380
By Powell
A RESOLUTION to honor the memory of John Howard Roe, Jr., of Nashville.
WHEREAS, the members of this General Assembly were greatly saddened to learn of
the passing of John Howard Roe, Jr., an attorney who was renowned for his work ethic,
incomparable memory, and legal acumen; and WHEREAS, John Howard Roe, Jr., was born on December 29, 1946, in Springfield but lived in Clarksville for the majority of his childhood; and WHEREAS, determined to succeed in his studies from a young age, Mr. Roe decided in
the eighth grade that he wanted to become a lawyer; after graduating near the top of his class from Clarksville High School in 1965, he pursued his undergraduate studies at Davidson College, where he graduated Phi Beta Kappa in 1969; and WHEREAS, after graduating from Davidson, Mr. Roe attended Vanderbilt Law School,
graduating first in his class as Founder's Medalist in 1972; and WHEREAS, in addition to mastering his academic career, John Roe devoted himself to
activities in his formative years that would shape his personality, form his life's passions, and serve him well in his fifty-year legal career; and WHEREAS, as a junior high school student, he became involved with the Boy Scouts of
America, rising to the rank of Eagle Scout; John Roe spent his summers at Camp Boxwell,
where he served as a counselor to young Boy Scouts from all over the State of Tennessee and developed a love of the outdoors; and WHEREAS, Mr. Roe remained involved in the Nashville chapter of the Boy Scouts until his passing, and he continued to return to Camp Boxwell on a regular basis to gather with the lifelong friends he established as a young Boy Scout; and HJR1380
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WHEREAS, one of his favorite camp activities was sailing, and he cultivated a passion for sailing at camp that would become an integral part of his life for more than sixty years; in
1985, Mr. Roe purchased a boat that he kept at Percy Priest Lake, captaining his family and friends on many adventures until just months before his passing; and WHEREAS, serving as a leader and captain suited him well; as a senior at Clarksville High School, Mr. Roe had served as president of the student body; and WHEREAS, John Roe remained committed to his roots throughout his life and used his leadership and legal skills to assist with causes he espoused; he contributed to the preservation and development of Clarksville over the years, purchasing the historic structure in which his high school was housed, saving it from demolition, and restoring it into an apartment building;
and WHEREAS, he also helped found the Wade Bourne Nature Center at Rotary Park in
Clarksville, a park and nature center that promotes conservation and nature education, named in honor of his Clarksville High School classmate and friend, Wade Bourne; and WHEREAS, Mr. Roe spent many years involved with Habitat for Humanity of Greater Nashville, serving as board chair in 2005; and WHEREAS, in 1995, John Roe purchased a home in Monteagle, a place where he loved to spend time hiking, swimming, and sitting on the deck enjoying the outdoors with family and friends; and WHEREAS, inspired by an appreciation for nature, Mr. Roe drew upon his legal expertise to lead a group of homeowners to establish a conservation easement over hundreds of acres of land in Monteagle, preserving the natural landscape and protecting the land from clear-cutting; and WHEREAS, in his free time, John Roe was an avid sailor and outdoorsman; he enjoyed backpacking, canoeing, and fishing trips with his family and friends; and
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WHEREAS, a lifelong student of history and an adventurer, he enjoyed traveling to
places all over the world; and WHEREAS, John Roe's loyalty and commitment to the people in his life, the causes in
which he believed, and the work in which he engaged left an indelible mark in the communities in which he lived; he strived for excellence in all areas of his life, and the contributions that he
made to the world around him will be appreciated by all who knew him; and WHEREAS, Mr. Roe is survived by his wife of twenty years, Jane Buchi Roe; children,
Lillian (Nate) Gilmer, John (Alicia) Roe, and Alan (Tatiana) Roe; grandchildren, Emi, Lila, and Hannah Gilmer, Tasman and Amelia Brinton-Roe, and Matthew and Naomi Roe; sister, Lynne Wilson; stepchildren, Marla (Topper) Doehring, Hunter (Katty) Connelly, and Will (Lauren)
Connelly; and eight additional grandchildren; and WHEREAS, he was preceded in death by his wife of thirty-four years, Emily Hunt Roe;
father, John Howard Roe, Sr.; and mother, Lillian C. Roe; and WHEREAS, John Roe leaves behind an indelible legacy of professional excellence as
an attorney, loyalty and generosity in private life, and diligence and dedication in all his chosen endeavors; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED
THIRTEENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE, THE SENATE
CONCURRING, that we honor the life and work of John Howard Roe, Jr., and mourn in his passing the loss of a brilliant intellect, strong work ethic, and generous mentor who utilized his legal skills to further the aspirations of his clients, protect the communities in which he lived, and support the causes in which he believed.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that an appropriate copy of this resolution be prepared for presentation with this final clause omitted from such copy and upon proper request made to
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the appropriate clerk, the language appearing immediately following the State seal appear without House or Senate designation.
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