SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 520
WHEREAS, Rosser Coke Newton Sr. of Dallas has published an
important biography of our state's 15th governor, Richard Coke:
Texan; and
WHEREAS, An indirect descendant of Governor Coke, Mr.
Newton recognized that the politician's life and the
post-Reconstruction era had been largely unexplored; Governor
Coke led the state in its recovery from the upheaval of the Civil
War, quelled lawlessness at the border, and oversaw the drafting
and ratification of the Texas Constitution, which endures as the
state's governing document; elected in 1874, he was a fierce
proponent of states' rights and a critic of federal intervention,
and he went on to serve as a U.S. senator; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Newton conducted extensive research in a wide
range of sources, including first-person accounts,
correspondence, family records, and documentation of debates
during constitutional conventions, the Secession Convention, and
legislative sessions; his book was published in November 2024 by
Stoney Creek Publishing Group, part of the Texas Book Consortium,
which is affiliated with Texas A&M University Press; and
WHEREAS, By profession a prominent businessman, Mr. Newton
collects Texas memorabilia and serves as a trustee for the Dallas
Historical Society; he is a cofounder and co-chair of the Alamo
Letter Society, which places bronze plaques engraved with
William B. Travis's historic "Victory or Death" missive in county
courthouses around the state; and
WHEREAS, Rosser Newton has demonstrated an admirable
commitment to expanding knowledge of our state's fascinating
history, and his work is sure to be appreciated by future
generations; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 89th
Legislature, hereby honor Rosser Coke Newton Sr. for his
biography of former Texas governor Richard Coke and extend to him
sincere best wishes for continued success in his scholarly
endeavors; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this Resolution be
prepared for Mr. Newton as an expression of high regard from the
Texas Senate.
Hall
Alvarado Hagenbuch Middleton Alvarado Hagenbuch Middleton
Alvarado Hagenbuch Middleton
Bettencourt Hancock Miles Bettencourt Hancock Miles
Bettencourt Hancock Miles
Birdwell Hinojosa of Hidalgo Nichols Birdwell Hinojosa of Hidalgo Nichols
Birdwell Hinojosa of Hidalgo Nichols
Blanco Hinojosa of Nueces Parker Blanco Hinojosa of Nueces Parker
Blanco Hinojosa of Nueces Parker
Campbell Huffman Paxton Campbell Huffman Paxton
Campbell Huffman Paxton
Cook Hughes Perry Cook Hughes Perry
Cook Hughes Perry
Creighton King Schwertner Creighton King Schwertner
Creighton King Schwertner
Eckhardt Kolkhorst Sparks Eckhardt Kolkhorst Sparks
Eckhardt Kolkhorst Sparks
Flores Menéndez West Flores Menéndez West
Flores Menéndez West
Gutierrez Zaffirini Gutierrez Zaffirini
Gutierrez Zaffirini
Patrick, President of the Senate
________________________________
President of the Senate
I hereby certify that the
above Resolution was adopted by
the Senate on May 14, 2025.
________________________________
Secretary of the Senate
________________________________
Member, Texas Senate
Alvarado Hagenbuch Middleton
Bettencourt Hancock Miles
Birdwell Hinojosa of Hidalgo Nichols
Blanco Hinojosa of Nueces Parker
Campbell Huffman Paxton
Cook Hughes Perry
Creighton King Schwertner
Eckhardt Kolkhorst Sparks
Flores Menéndez West
Gutierrez Zaffirini