Bill Text: TX SR641 | 2019-2020 | 86th Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: Recognizing Walter Umphrey for his legal career.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2019-04-30 - Again read [SR641 Detail]
Download: Texas-2019-SR641-Enrolled.html
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| 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 | ||
| ________________________________ | ||
| President of the Senate | ||
| I hereby certify that the | ||
| above Resolution was adopted by | ||
| the Senate on April 25, 2019. | ||
| ________________________________ | ||
| Secretary of the Senate | ||
| ________________________________ | ||
| Member, Texas Senate | ||
