H.R. No. 208
                                  R E S O L U T I O N
    1-1        WHEREAS, Melvin Coley of Fort Worth recently retired from his
    1-2  position as court reporter for the 17th District Court, Tarrant
    1-3  County, on January 15, 1993, after serving the citizens of the
    1-4  State of Texas with integrity and distinction for more than four
    1-5  decades; and
    1-6        WHEREAS, Born in Ralls on February 13, 1927, this outstanding
    1-7  Texan has devoted his life toward the betterment of his nation,
    1-8  state, profession, community, and family; and
    1-9        WHEREAS, Immediately after his graduation from high school,
   1-10  Mr. Coley answered his country's call to arms during World War II,
   1-11  serving as a U.S. Navy corpsman in the ports of San Diego and New
   1-12  Orleans; this loyal American again donned his Navy uniform during
   1-13  the Korean War to serve as a military court reporter; and
   1-14        WHEREAS, Returning to Texas at the end of World War II, he
   1-15  pursued his professional studies at a court reporting school in
   1-16  Plainview, worked as a freelance court reporter, and moved to
   1-17  Stephenville in 1948 where he gained employment as the court
   1-18  reporter for the 29th District Court; in this capacity, he served
   1-19  the citizens of Hood, Erath, and Palo Pinto counties and recorded
   1-20  both civil and criminal proceedings; and
   1-21        WHEREAS, It was during this time that Mr. Coley met his
   1-22  future wife, Wanda, an employee of the Texas Highway Department
   1-23  and, following a two-year courtship, the happy couple were united
   1-24  in marriage on August 5, 1950, at the First Methodist Church in
    2-1  Stephenville; and
    2-2        WHEREAS, In 1969, after more than two decades in
    2-3  Stephenville, this remarkable gentleman moved to Fort Worth and
    2-4  accepted a position with District Judge Charles Murray as the court
    2-5  reporter for the 17th District Court; he later worked closely with
    2-6  District Judge Fred Davis following Judge Murray's retirement in
    2-7  1988; and
    2-8        WHEREAS, Mr. Coley is greatly admired and respected by his
    2-9  peers in the court reporting profession, not only for his hard work
   2-10  and dedication to excellence, but also for his ability to
   2-11  outperform transcription machines with his tried and true
   2-12  shorthand; and
   2-13        WHEREAS, He also is affiliated with several local and state
   2-14  professional associations and has been actively involved in many
   2-15  civic organizations over the years, including the Jaycees, the
   2-16  Lions Club, and the American Legion; in addition, Mr. Coley is a
   2-17  devoted member of the Genesis United Methodist Church in Fort
   2-18  Worth; and
   2-19        WHEREAS, A devoted husband and father, he enjoys an
   2-20  exceptionally happy marriage with Wanda, his wife of 42 years, and
   2-21  takes great pride in the accomplishments of his son, Craig J.
   2-22  Coley; although he has not yet made any formal retirement plans,
   2-23  Mr. Coley looks forward to spending more time with his beloved
   2-24  granddaughter, Elizabeth Renee Coley, and to the joyously awaited
   2-25  birth of a second grandchild; and
   2-26        WHEREAS, Throughout his career, this exemplary individual has
   2-27  given generously of himself in the service of his country, state,
    3-1  and community and, on the momentous occasion of his retirement, he
    3-2  indeed merits our highest praise and recognition for his many years
    3-3  of dedicated service to the citizens of Texas; now, therefore, be
    3-4  it
    3-5        RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 73rd Texas
    3-6  Legislature hereby honor Melvin Coley for his outstanding tenure as
    3-7  a court reporter for the 17th District Court and extend to him
    3-8  sincere best wishes for a happy and rewarding retirement; and, be
    3-9  it further
   3-10        RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
   3-11  prepared for Mr. Coley as an expression of high esteem by the Texas
   3-12  House of Representatives.
   3-13  prepared for Mr. Coley as an expression of high esteem by the Texas
   3-14  House of Representatives.
   3-15                                                              Goodman
   3-16                                                      H.R. No. 208
   3-17                                      _______________________________
   3-18                                            Speaker of the House
   3-19        I certify that H.R. No. 208 was adopted by the House on March
   3-20  11, 1993, by a non-record vote.
   3-21                                      _______________________________
   3-22                                          Chief Clerk of the House