| |
|
|
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 78
|
| |
| |
|
|
In Memory |
|
|
of |
|
|
David Gray Hall |
| |
|
|
WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas honors and |
|
|
commemorates the remarkable life of David Gray Hall, who died on |
|
|
October 11, 2023, at the age of 81; and |
| |
|
|
WHEREAS, David Hall was born on November 10, 1941, in |
|
|
Baytown; after graduating from high school, he attended The |
|
|
University of Texas at Austin, where he served as a member of |
|
|
the Silver Spurs and was honored as a University of Texas |
|
|
Goodfellow; and |
| |
|
|
WHEREAS, David devoted his life to serving others through |
|
|
his various professional pursuits and was deeply committed to the |
|
|
cause of justice; he served in the Peace Corps in Venezuela for |
|
|
two years before completing his law degree, and he went on to work |
|
|
as an attorney for the United Farm Workers Union and the American |
|
|
Civil Liberties Union; and |
| |
|
|
WHEREAS, A champion for the rights of the oppressed, David |
|
|
made tremendous contributions to the advancement of justice |
|
|
throughout the Rio Grande Valley region through his service as |
|
|
the director of Texas RioGrande Legal Aid; he was an advocate for |
|
|
the equal representation of Mexican Americans and defended the |
|
|
rights of migrant farmworkers for more than 40 years until his |
|
|
retirement in 2018; and |
| |
|
|
WHEREAS, Under his outstanding leadership, the group |
|
|
launched the state's first nonprofit public defender services, |
|
|
established pro se clinics throughout border counties, assisted in |
|
|
transnational litigation involving parental custody disputes, and |
|
|
bolstered representation for children jailed by immigration |
|
|
authorities, among a number of other commendable initiatives; and |
| |
|
|
WHEREAS, A man of wisdom, determination, and integrity, |
|
|
David was named one of the greatest Texas lawyers of the past |
|
|
century by Texas Lawyer for his exceptional contributions to his |
|
|
profession, and he trained and mentored countless young |
|
|
attorneys representing asylum seekers to fight for their clients |
|
|
with courage and conviction; and |
| |
|
|
WHEREAS, David was a devoted husband to his beloved wife of |
|
|
nearly 27 years, Pamela, and a loving father to his two |
|
|
daughters, Allison and Lynn; he is also survived by his niece and |
|
|
nephew, and his four grandchildren were a source of great pride |
|
|
and joy to him; and |
| |
|
|
WHEREAS, David was an intrepid defender of justice and a |
|
|
leader in creating meaningful and lasting change in the field of |
|
|
law; he was a sourceofhopeandinspirationtohiscolleagues, |
|
|
clients, and countless others, and he leaves behind memories that |
|
|
will be forever cherished by his loved ones and by all who were |
|
|
privileged to know him and to share in his life; now, therefore, |
|
|
be it |
| |
|
|
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 88th |
|
|
Legislature, 4th Called Session, hereby extend sincere condolences |
|
|
to the bereaved family of David Gray Hall; and, be it further |
| |
|
|
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for |
|
|
his family as an expression of deepest sympathy from the Texas |
|
|
Senate and that when the Senate adjourns this day, it do so in |
|
|
memory of David Hall. |
| |
|
|
Eckhardt, Hinojosa |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
________________________________ |
|
|
|
President of the Senate |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I hereby certify that the |
|
|
|
above Resolution was adopted by |
|
|
|
the Senate on December 5, 2023, by |
|
|
|
a rising vote. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
________________________________ |
|
|
|
Secretary of the Senate |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
________________________________ |
|
|
|
Member, Texas Senate |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
________________________________ |
|
|
|
Member, Texas Senate |