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