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| 5 | 6 | | |
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| 6 | 7 | | R E S O L U T I O N |
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| 7 | 8 | | WHEREAS, The life of a respected jurist drew to a close with |
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| 8 | 9 | | the passing of the Honorable Morris Lee Overstreet on March 3, 2024, |
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| 9 | 10 | | at the age of 73; and |
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| 10 | 11 | | WHEREAS, Born in Amarillo on July 10, 1950, Morris Overstreet |
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| 11 | 12 | | was the son of West and Nora Johnson Overstreet; he distinguished |
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| 12 | 13 | | himself athletically at George Washington Carver High School, where |
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| 13 | 14 | | he played football and competed in track and field, and he went on |
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| 14 | 15 | | to graduate with honors from Amarillo High School; he earned a track |
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| 15 | 16 | | scholarship to Angelo State University, and after receiving a |
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| 16 | 17 | | degree in sociology, he obtained his juris doctor degree from the |
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| 17 | 18 | | school of law at Texas Southern University; and |
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| 18 | 19 | | WHEREAS, Judge Overstreet began his career in public service, |
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| 19 | 20 | | becoming an assistant district attorney in Amarillo's |
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| 20 | 21 | | 47th Judicial District; he transitioned to private practice from |
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| 21 | 22 | | 1981 to 1986, and he subsequently served for four years as the |
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| 22 | 23 | | presiding judge for the Potter County Court; in 1990, he |
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| 23 | 24 | | successfully ran for a seat on the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, |
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| 24 | 25 | | making him the first African American elected to a statewide |
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| 25 | 26 | | position in Texas since Reconstruction; he authored more than 500 |
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| 26 | 27 | | opinions during his seven years on the court; and |
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| 27 | 28 | | WHEREAS, Later in his career, Judge Overstreet practiced law |
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| 28 | 29 | | in Austin, Houston, and Galveston, as well as in Waller County; he |
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| 29 | 30 | | served as a judge in Waller County's Prairie View Municipal Court, |
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| 30 | 31 | | and he gave back to his alma mater, TSU, in his roles as director of |
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| 31 | 32 | | its legal clinic and as a distinguished visiting professor; |
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| 32 | 33 | | moreover, he joined with his cousin Brian Overstreet to operate a |
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| 33 | 34 | | sports management firm, USG Sports; he was a partner with the law |
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| 34 | 35 | | firm of Hance Scarborough, LLP, until shortly before his death, and |
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| 35 | 36 | | he held membership in such organizations as the State Bar of Texas, |
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| 36 | 37 | | the American Bar Association, and Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity; and |
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| 37 | 38 | | WHEREAS, Judge Overstreet shared a rewarding marriage with |
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| 38 | 39 | | his wife, Dr. Carla Ortique, and his cherished family included his |
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| 39 | 40 | | two children, Elizabeth and West, as well as three grandchildren, |
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| 40 | 41 | | Tyriece, Marrissa, and Morris; he delighted in traveling and |
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| 41 | 42 | | celebrating holidays with his loved ones, and he brought joy to many |
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| 42 | 43 | | family gatherings with his playful sense of humor; and |
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| 43 | 44 | | WHEREAS, Judge Morris Overstreet made an indelible impact |
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| 44 | 45 | | through his myriad accomplishments as a public servant, civic |
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| 45 | 46 | | leader, and legal authority, and he will forever be a source of |
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| 46 | 47 | | inspiration to those he leaves behind; now, therefore, be it |
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| 47 | 48 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas |
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| 48 | 49 | | Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of the Honorable Morris |
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| 49 | 50 | | Lee Overstreet and extend deepest condolences to his family and |
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| 50 | 51 | | friends; and, be it further |
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| 51 | 52 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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| 52 | 53 | | prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of |
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| 53 | 54 | | Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Judge |
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| 54 | 55 | | Morris Overstreet. |
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