By:  Haley                                       S.R. No. 251
    1-1                           SENATE RESOLUTION
    1-2                               In Memory
    1-3                                  of
    1-4                The Honorable Ernest Andrew Coker, Sr.
    1-5        WHEREAS, The death of the Honorable Ernest Andrew Coker, Sr.,
    1-6  of Conroe, Texas, on July 2, 1992, was deeply mourned by the
    1-7  citizens of Polk County; and
    1-8        WHEREAS, The renowned judge served for 30 years with the
    1-9  2nd Ninth District Court and Ninth District Court in Polk and
   1-10  neighboring counties until his retirement in 1977; and
   1-11        WHEREAS, He loved the work to which he devoted his life and,
   1-12  even in retirement, he continued to serve as a visiting judge in
   1-13  Houston until 1990; and
   1-14        WHEREAS, His illustrious legal career began in 1934 when he
   1-15  was admitted to the Texas bar; he moved his practice from Houston to
   1-16  Polk County and became Polk County attorney in the late 1930s; and
   1-17        WHEREAS, Elected to the Texas House of Representatives in 1940,
   1-18  Judge Coker served with great distinction before becoming a member
   1-19  of the first state industrial commission in Texas in 1946; and
   1-20        WHEREAS, His diligence and ability in the performance of his
   1-21  duties led to his appointment by Governor Buford Jester to the 2nd
   1-22  Ninth District Court in 1947, where he served until he took office
   1-23  as the Ninth District Court judge in 1956; and
    2-1        WHEREAS, During his terms of office he presided over many
    2-2  controversial cases while upholding a justice system that applied
    2-3  the law equitably to all individuals; and
    2-4        WHEREAS, Born in Goodrich on October 3, 1903, Ernest Coker
    2-5  attended school there and worked as a telegraph operator for the
    2-6  Santa Fe Railroad; after his marriage he worked his way through
    2-7  South Texas School of Law driving a milk truck; and
    2-8        WHEREAS, During his lifetime Judge Coker established a
    2-9  permanent place for himself in the hearts of those who lived and
   2-10  worked with him; and
   2-11        WHEREAS, His wise counsel and sound judgment will be greatly
   2-12  missed and remembered with gratitude by all who knew him; now,
   2-13  therefore, be it
   2-14        RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,
   2-15  73rd Legislature, hereby extend sincere condolences to the members
   2-16  of his family:  his wife, Terry; his sons, Ernest Coker, Jr., and
   2-17  Lynn Coker; his sisters, Doris Malone and Bernice Burney; his
   2-18  brother, Hollis Coker; and his six grandchildren; and, be it
   2-19  further
   2-20        RESOLVED,  That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for the
   2-21  members of his family as an expression of deepest sympathy from the
   2-22  Texas Senate, and that when the Senate adjourns this day, it do so
   2-23  in memory of the Honorable Ernest Andrew Coker, Sr.
   2-24                                 _____________________________________
   2-25                                        President of the Senate
    3-1                                      I hereby certify that the
    3-2                                 above Resolution was adopted by
    3-3                                 the Senate on February 17, 1993,
    3-4                                 by a rising vote.
    3-5                                 _____________________________________
    3-6                                        Secretary of the Senate
    3-7                                 _____________________________________
    3-8                                         Member, Texas Senate