Texas 2019 - 86th Regular

Texas Senate Bill SR641 Compare Versions

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1	1	SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 641
2	2	WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to
3	3	recognize Walter Umphrey for his outstanding legal career and his
4	4	lifetime of work as an advocate for those unable to speak for
5	5	themselves; and
6	6	WHEREAS, Walter Umphrey is a native of Port Arthur and a
7	7	graduate of Baylor Law School, where his mastery of the school's
8	8	respected Practice Court curriculum presaged a career in which
9	9	his commitment to equal justice and his thorough knowledge of
10	10	the law had a profound impact on the lives of people across the
11	11	state; and
12	12	WHEREAS, Mr. Umphrey began his long and distinguished
13	13	legal career as a prosecutor in the Jefferson County District
14	14	Attorney's Office; in 1969, he joined with David Provost to
15	15	create the Provost Umphrey Law Firm, and time and again, on
16	16	behalf of individuals and their families, he won verdicts and
17	17	settlements against even the most powerful companies and
18	18	industries; and
19	19	WHEREAS, In 1998, he was named lead counsel for a team of
20	20	attorneys chosen to represent the State of Texas in its
21	21	historic suit against the tobacco industry; he was able to
22	22	engineer the largest civil suit settlement in the nation's
23	23	history, with the state receiving a $15.3 billion award and the
24	24	team of attorneys earning $3.3 billion in legal fees from the
25	25	tobacco companies; and
26	26	WHEREAS, He has received numerous honors and accolades for
27	27	his work, including recognition as a Legal Legend by Texas Lawyer
28	28	magazine and inclusion in the Top Texas Lawyers of the 20th
29	29	Century; he is a longtime member of the Texas Trial Lawyer
30	30	Association, which granted him Board Emeritus status, and he was
31	31	named a Fellow of the International Society of Barristers and of
32	32	the Texas Bar Foundation; and
33	33	WHEREAS, Since retiring from the practice of law,
34	34	Mr. Umphrey has turned his energy and his efforts toward
35	35	philanthropy, particularly in the field of education; he and his
36	36	wife, Sheila Umphrey, have been incredibly generous in their
37	37	support of Baylor Law School and Lamar University, and he donated
38	38	land to Jefferson County that was used to establish Walter
39	39	Umphrey State Park; and
40	40	WHEREAS, Walter Umphrey has had a profound impact on the
41	41	legal profession in Texas, and it is truly fitting that he
42	42	receive special recognition for his career and for his invaluable
43	43	service on behalf of the men and women of this state; now,
44	44	therefore, be it
45	45	RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 86th
46	46	Legislature, hereby commend Walter Umphrey on his exceptional
47	47	legal accomplishments and on his extraordinary generosity and
48	48	extend to him best wishes for continued success in all his
49	49	endeavors; and, be it further
50	50	RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for
51	51	him as an expression of high regard from the Texas Senate.
52	52	Watson
53	53	________________________________
54	54	President of the Senate
55	55	I hereby certify that the
56	56	above Resolution was adopted by
57	57	the Senate on April 25, 2019.
58	58	________________________________
59	59	Secretary of the Senate
60	60	________________________________
61	61	Member, Texas Senate