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SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 2
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In Memory |
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of |
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Jerry Harris |
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WHEREAS, Memories of a life well lived may help to comfort |
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those saddened by the passing of Jerry Strickland Harris of |
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Longview on May 26, 2023, at the age of 88; and |
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WHEREAS, Jerry Harris was born in Marshall on March 4, |
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1935, to Ouida Lathem and James Colbert Harris; he was raised by |
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his beloved aunt and uncle, Lula Belle and Exl Strickland, and he |
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grew up with the companionship of a brother, Louis; a star |
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athlete at Marshall High School, he earned a full scholarship to |
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play football for Rice University, and he went on to receive the |
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1958 George R. Martin Award as the team's most valuable player; |
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after graduating from Rice, he completed his studies at Baylor |
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University School of Law in 1960; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Harris subsequently moved to Longview, and he |
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eventually joined a local law firm where he practiced for more |
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than six decades; along the way, he used his skills and legal |
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acumen to help many clients and also served as a mentor to a |
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number of aspiring attorneys; he continued to practice law up |
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until his last days; and |
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WHEREAS, In 1961, Mr. Harris married Claire Roberts, and |
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they were blessed with three children, Miriam, Melissa, and |
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Houston; after that marriage ended, he was fortunate enough to |
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find love again with Risa Horner Harris, with whom he shared the |
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last four decades of his life; in his leisure time, he enjoyed |
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outdoor activities like fishing, golfing, hunting, and skiing, |
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and he had many happy memories of spending summers in Colorado |
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and taking fishing trips to Lake Cherokee and Caddo Lake; he was |
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known as a dear friend and a trusted listener, and he was also |
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blessed with a wonderful sense of humor and a keen ability to help |
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others see their own potential; and |
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WHEREAS, Jerry Harris distinguished himself through his |
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unwavering commitment to his profession and to his loved ones, |
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and he leaves behind a legacy that will long be remembered; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 88th |
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Legislature, 2nd Called Session, hereby pay tribute to the life |
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of Jerry Strickland Harris and extend sincere sympathy to the |
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members of his family: to his wife, Risa Horner Harris; to his |
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daughter, Miriam Jones, and her sons, Harris and Houston; to his |
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daughter, Melissa McDonald, her husband, Scott, and their |
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daughters and sons-in-law, Alexis and Scott Moody and Julia and |
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Nolan Chumbley; to his son, Houston Harris, his wife, Dawn, and |
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their children, Mary and Houston; to his stepson, James |
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Singleton; to his great-grandson, Mac Moody; and to his other |
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relatives and friends; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this Resolution be |
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prepared for his family and that when the Texas Senate adjourns |
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this day, it do so in memory of Jerry Harris. |
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Hughes |
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________________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
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I hereby certify that the |
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above Resolution was adopted by |
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the Senate on June 28, 2023, by a |
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rising vote. |
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________________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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________________________________ |
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Member, Texas Senate |