Texas 2015 - 84th Regular

Texas Senate Bill SR387 Compare Versions

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Old	New	Differences
1	1	SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 387
2	2	In Memory
3	3	of
4	4	Ralph Matthew Dawson
5	5	WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas honors and
6	6	commemorates the life of noted attorney and law professor Ralph
7	7	Matthew Dawson, who died February 17, 2015, at the age of 98; and
8	8	WHEREAS, Matt Dawson was born on March 20, 1916, to Dr.
9	9	Joseph Martin Dawson and Willie Turner Dawson; he graduated from
10	10	Waco High School in 1933 and went on to earn a bachelor's degree
11	11	and a law degree from Baylor University; and
12	12	WHEREAS, He established his first legal practice in
13	13	Longview, where he dealt with a growing number of energy industry
14	14	cases that were spawned by the East Texas oil boom; he was elected
15	15	to the Gregg County judgeship in 1942 and became at the time the
16	16	youngest person to serve on a Texas bench; and
17	17	WHEREAS, After serving in the United States Navy during
18	18	World War II, he joined a Corsicana law firm that eventually
19	19	became Dawson and Sodd; he was a trial lawyer with the firm for 35
20	20	years and was then named the Leon Jaworski Chair in Practice and
21	21	Procedure at Baylor University Law School; and
22	22	WHEREAS, As a professor at the university, he was an
23	23	inspiration to countless young law students; he became nationally
24	24	renowned for the triumphs of his mock trial teams, which won
25	25	numerous regional titles and two national championships; a
26	26	life-size bronze statue in his likeness was placed outside the
27	27	practice court classroom to honor his achievements, and a trial
28	28	advocacy professorship was established in his name; and
29	29	WHEREAS, Mr. Dawson retired from academia in 1983 and
30	30	returned to the private practice of law; he took part in several
31	31	landmark cases, notably Pennzoil v. Texaco and the South Texas
32	32	Nuclear Project suit; his many professional honors and awards
33	33	included the Texas Bar Association's designation of Outstanding
34	34	50-Year Lawyer and his induction as a Fellow of the American
35	35	College of Trial Lawyers; and
36	36	WHEREAS, He and his beloved wife of more than 60 years, the
37	37	late Princess Louise Markham, raised five children and instilled in
38	38	them high ethical standards, a strong commitment to educational
39	39	excellence, and a philosophy of positive contribution; he was
40	40	blessed with 16 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren; and
41	41	WHEREAS, He was a man of wisdom and strength who gave
42	42	unselfishly to others and who lived his life to the fullest, and
43	43	he was respected for his incisive intellect and his fierce
44	44	competitive drive; and
45	45	WHEREAS, He was a devoted husband, father, and
46	46	grandfather, and he leaves behind memories that will be treasured
47	47	forever by his family and many friends; now, therefore, be it
48	48	RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 84th
49	49	Legislature, hereby extend sincere condolences to the bereaved
50	50	family of Ralph Matthew Dawson; and, be it further
51	51	RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for
52	52	his family as an expression of deepest sympathy from the Texas
53	53	Senate and that when the Senate adjourns this day, it do so in
54	54	memory of Ralph Matthew Dawson.
55	55	Watson, Birdwell
56	56	________________________________
57	57	President of the Senate
58	58	I hereby certify that the
59	59	above Resolution was adopted by
60	60	the Senate on March 17, 2015, by a
61	61	rising vote.
62	62	________________________________
63	63	Secretary of the Senate
64	64	________________________________
65	65	Member, Texas Senate
66	66	________________________________
67	67	Member, Texas Senate