R E S O L U T I O N

 1-1           WHEREAS, On February 1, 1997, Walter Umphrey completed his

 1-2     term on the board of directors of the Texas Parks and Wildlife

 1-3     Department, having brought to that position the tireless dedication

 1-4     and selfless service that have been the hallmarks of his

 1-5     professional career; and

 1-6           WHEREAS, Mr. Umphrey was appointed to the board by Governor

 1-7     Ann Richards in 1991, and during his six-year tenure, he presided

 1-8     over a host of issues important to all Texans and was instrumental

 1-9     in the creation of a new state park in Southeast Texas; and

1-10           WHEREAS, He received his undergraduate degree from Baylor

1-11     University and after graduating from that institution's school of

1-12     law in 1965, he became a prosecuting attorney in the Jefferson

1-13     County District Attorney's Office; and

1-14           WHEREAS, Four years later, he founded what is now Provost &

1-15     Umphrey Law Firm in Port Arthur and has excelled in his chosen

1-16     field to become one of the most successful trial lawyers in the

1-17     nation; and

1-18           WHEREAS, A fellow of the International Society of Barristers,

1-19     Mr. Umphrey is board certified in the areas of personal injury

1-20     trial law and labor law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization

1-21     and has also been certified by the American Board of Trial

1-22     Advocates; this respected lawyer is also admitted to practice

1-23     before the United States Supreme Court; and

1-24           WHEREAS, He has made many lasting contributions to his

 2-1     profession as president of the Southeast Texas Trial Lawyers

 2-2     Association and as  an active member of the Texas Trial Lawyers

 2-3     Association, the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, and the

 2-4     local, state, and national chapters of the Bar Association; and

 2-5           WHEREAS, Throughout his distinguished career, Mr. Umphrey has

 2-6     maintained an abiding commitment to his community; he has given

 2-7     generously of his time and talents as chairman of the board of

 2-8     Community Bank and further serves his fellow citizens as a Patron

 2-9     of Police and as an active member of various wildlife

2-10     organizations; and

2-11           WHEREAS, A devoted conservationist, he has dedicated private

2-12     properties to game management and maintenance of native habitat,

2-13     and his remarkable generosity will greatly enhance the recreation

2-14     opportunities of his fellow Texans for many years to come; and

2-15           WHEREAS, Mr. Umphrey's philanthropy also extends to the area

2-16     of education; he funded the construction of a courtroom for Baylor

2-17     University School of Law, provided full undergraduate scholarships

2-18     to Lamar University, made an endowment to The University of Texas

2-19     School of Law, and established annual awards for school counselors;

2-20     and

2-21           WHEREAS, In all his endeavors, this esteemed gentleman has

2-22     enjoyed the love and support of his family, which includes his

2-23     devoted wife, Sheila, and the couple's children, Bart Edward

2-24     Umphrey and Paige Elizabeth Umphrey Cansler, and more recently, the

2-25     Umphreys have welcomed the addition of a beloved granddaughter,

2-26     Madison Cansler, into their close-knit family; and

2-27           WHEREAS, Walter Umphrey is a man of immense vision who has

 3-1     served both his state and his community with great distinction, and

 3-2     it is indeed appropriate that he receive special legislative

 3-3     recognition at this time; now, therefore, be it

 3-4           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 75th Texas

 3-5     Legislature hereby honor Walter Umphrey for his exemplary tenure

 3-6     with the board of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and

 3-7     extend warmest best wishes to him for continued success and

 3-8     happiness in all his future endeavors; and, be it further

 3-9           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be

3-10     prepared for Mr. Umphrey as an expression of high regard from the

3-11     Texas House of Representatives.

                                                                      Stiles

                                             _______________________________

                                                   Speaker of the House

               I certify that H.R. No. 260 was adopted by the House on June

         2, 1997, by a non-record vote.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Chief Clerk of the House