teaching our FootstepsTurning towards the Horizonby Robert C. "Bob" Hintn~~, Jr.as this phenomenal and fascinatingAssociation enters itsthirtieth year, it is absorbingto re-trace its enonnous footsteps.Enonnous, hecause they were leftby the colossal titans of our profession.Phil Burlman, Em& Maloney, EmmettColvin, Tony Friloux, Warren BtunetttGeorge Gilkerson, Chaley Butts,Weldon Holcon~h, Stuart Rillad, BobJones, Charley McDonald,George Milner, Jr., RoyMinton, Richard Haynes,Travis Shclton, Vince Perini,Cliff Brown, Tam Sharp,Charles Tessmcr, DougTinker, Don Wdson, RoyBanem, to name but a few,decided in 1971 it was timefor crimiual defense lawyersto have a statc-wide presence.<strong>The</strong>y set upon the taskto establish an assmiation ofprofessionals which wouldhave a voice to he heard intlle legislature, and the criunnalcourts throughout thisvast state. <strong>The</strong>y sought toprotect andensure the constitutionalrights of citizensacwsed, to educate and assistcriininal defense lawyers, and thereby topromote justice and tbe common good.Weldon Holcomb, Geo~ge Gilkerson,Judge Frank Maloney and <strong>Voice</strong> Editorin-ChiefJohn Carroll ham accepted thechallenge of Co-chairing the "30thAnniversary Commttlee". ThisCommittee is charged with the respondbility of producing a video-tapedreview of the conception, gestation,birth and early development ofthis magof"lonocent Persons in Pnson, <strong>The</strong>Need for Innocence Protectionnificent entity we now m e with pride, Legislation and Fommt~on of h6 Texasappreciation and respect. <strong>The</strong> product oftheir efforts will be displayed at theIimocence Network". Barry Scheok, ourown Edward Mallett, the incoming"Members' Party" in June, 2001. FIO~I NACDL President, outgoing TCDLAthe Iilming I have been privileged toobserve to this polntJ can assure you itwill be a "block-buster"!Cynthia &Jar OK absolutely stunsPresident Michael Hciskell, Bill Allisonand others met the media in a very productiveconference which garnered wideand concentmted coverage about tbistopic of moat importance.Congratulations, Cynthia, onyet another job done withsuper-human exceIlence.Betty Blackwell and MarkDaniel prodmed what has tohave been thc very finest"Rusty Duncan Criminal LawSeminar" ever! Knowing thatBetty, Mark, Cynthia, DanHurley and Randy Wilsonconstitute our chain of OEcersallows me to sleepme. I am beginning to hcliwethat she issuper- human, some bionio creation ofthe Goldstein laboratory of magic! Shemust ham no need for sleep or otherhuman escapes, as she obviously works24 over 7 by 521 Cynthia organized,scripted and orehestrated a very excellentand effective press conference onJune2.2000, in SanAntonio on the issuesoundly at night. Eyen a"Red-Headed Wildman" can'trender things unsalvageablein the face of this roster ofchampions!As president, I have twomajor goals. <strong>The</strong> first is togrow the membership to 3000by June, 2001. <strong>The</strong> second is to pmvidethe snpporl for KelthHampton and AUenPlace to have the nmst effective legisla-tlve effort ever. W~th your help TCDLAcan achieve these goals. Please, go outof your way to sign np now members.Be available to go in Anstin to helpKeith and Allen.('rrfinwd an imfpng8)<strong>Voice</strong> 6 - JulyiAugust 2000 - President's Message
When they ask you to contact yourlegislators, do so! Keith and Allen arethe pros. If we listen to them and dowhat they say this organization canmake a big difference. We can achievetime goals if we want to. In the wordsof Raymond Holliwell, "Desire createsthe powerlf'We enjoy the Inxury of havinganinwedibly dedicated, talentcd andhard working staff. We need a membershiphase of 3000 to be able to afford tokeep these fine professionals. Please gothe extra mile to recruit new memhen,and get them to come to our quatterlyBoard meetings. When members attend,they discover the intangibles that makethis organization so grcat, and they takeback with them a new spirit of pmfessionahn.As Racehorse soaptly puts it,they learn "why we do what we do"!With a membership hase of 3000 we willhe in a better position to cause our finestaff to want to continue to do what theydo so well.I close <strong>For</strong> now by expressing my sincerethanks to you for allowing me theincredible honor and privilege of servingas your President. Mike Heiskell is ahard act to follow. He is a great leader,and a man whom I respect and dearlylove. It has been a high point in mycareer, in my life, to have worked andplayed with Mike, and to count him asone of thc very best friends I have inlife! This organization and I are verymuch inhis debt. Mike cannow baskinlhc richly deserved glow of his lovclywife, Anita, and their perfect new baby,Michael P. Heiskell, Jr.Life is good!