By: Goodman H.R. No. 208
73R3422 KMP-D
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.