James Powell "J.P." Word

Former State Senator James Powell "J. P." Word, JD '58, passed away in Austin on Oct. 12 following a lengthy illness. He served with the US Army in Korea in the 302nd Military Intelligence Corps from 1950-1953. Upon his return from Korea, he married the former Bobbye Warren, also of Meridian, Texas. Word attended Baylor and practiced law in Meridian. He served as county judge until he was elected to the Texas Senate in 1963. 
In 1965, Word and then Senator Ralph Hall led the Senate's efforts to draw new state legislative and Congressional districts for the first time since the U.S. Supreme Court's famous "one man-one vote" decision in 1964. Word's proudest accomplishment was legislation creating the Tuition Equalization Grant Program, which helps qualified students attend private Texas colleges and universities of their choosing at state university tuition rates. An ally of Governor John B. Connally, Word was a much-respected leader in the Texas Senate, retiring in 1973.
Following his retirement, Word moved to Austin and began a new career as a lawyer and lobbyist with the Austin office of the law firm of Stubbeman, McRae, Sealy, Laughlin and Browder. He was a founder and president of the Texas Civil Justice League.