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.