R E S O L U T I O N
1-1 WHEREAS, With the untimely death of Michael John Crowley of
1-2 Austin on July 2, 2000, at the age of 53, the State of Texas lost a
1-3 leading member of the legal profession, one who inspired people
1-4 from across the nation with his courage, compassion, intelligence,
1-5 and humor; and
1-6 WHEREAS, The eldest son in a family of seven children, this
1-7 El Paso native graduated from St. Edward's University with a
1-8 bachelor of business administration degree; after serving his
1-9 country in the United States Navy, he resumed his academic career
1-10 at Texas Tech Law School, where he was appointed to the Law Review
1-11 and earned his law degree with honors in 1977; and
1-12 WHEREAS, Mr. Crowley clerked for Texas Supreme Court Justice
1-13 Zollie Steakley for a year and then joined the Austin firm of
1-14 Brown, Maroney, Rose, Barber & Dye, embarking on a successful
1-15 general civil litigation practice; in 1992, he started a defense
1-16 firm, Maroney Crowley & Bankston, which subsequently merged to be
1-17 Locke Liddell & Sapp, LLP; truly a notable attorney, he was
1-18 regularly sought out for his expertise in malpractice defense,
1-19 products liability defense, and commercial litigation, as well as
1-20 for his gifts as a public speaker, mentor to young lawyers, and
1-21 author; and
1-22 WHEREAS, Having endured seemingly insurmountable stress
1-23 himself after being thrust into the role of single parent and
1-24 father figure following the deaths of his first wife and parents,
2-1 this remarkable man drew on this painful period in his life to
2-2 found the Texas Lawyers' Assistance Program, an organization formed
2-3 to help other members of his profession successfully weather life's
2-4 tragedies; he became a nationally recognized speaker and leader on
2-5 the topic through the offices he held with the American Bar
2-6 Association, while personally remaining available to assist friends
2-7 in need closer to home; and
2-8 WHEREAS, Mr. Crowley served as chairman of the board of the
2-9 State Bar of Texas and in numerous other leadership positions with
2-10 the state bar, the Travis County Bar Association, the Texas
2-11 Association of Defense Counsel, and the Supreme Court Historical
2-12 Society; in addition, he chaired the Texas Bar Foundation and its
2-13 board of trustees and was appointed to the Texas Equal Access to
2-14 Justice Association Foundation; throughout his lifetime, he also
2-15 remained active with the alumni associations of St. Edward's
2-16 University and Texas Tech Law School; and
2-17 WHEREAS, For his exemplary and extraordinary service, he was
2-18 presented with the Award of Merit from the State Bar of Texas on
2-19 three occasions, and he also received the President's Award from
2-20 the Texas Association of Defense Counsel; in recognition of his
2-21 service to the legal profession and to his fellow citizens, the
2-22 Texas Bar Foundation has established the Michael J. Crowley Fund
2-23 for Justice, dedicated to providing legal assistance for the poor;
2-24 and
2-25 WHEREAS, Though his life ended far too soon, Mike Crowley
2-26 leaves behind a lasting legacy of achievement; a gifted trial
2-27 lawyer, devoted family man, and friend and advisor to many, he will
3-1 surely be remembered with great affection and admiration for many
3-2 years to come by all who were privileged to know him; now,
3-3 therefore, be it
3-4 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 77th Texas
3-5 Legislature hereby honor the memory of Michael John Crowley and
3-6 extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to his wife,
3-7 Beryl Ponton Crowley; to his children, Lisa, Pam, Jessica, Leslie,
3-8 and Sean Crowley; to his siblings, Timothy, Terrence, Matt, Mary,
3-9 Pat, and Jim Crowley; and to the many other relatives and friends
3-10 of this esteemed man; and, be it further
3-11 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
3-12 prepared for the members of his family and that when the Texas
3-13 House of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of
3-14 Michael Crowley.
Junell
Laney Goodman Merritt
Alexander Goolsby Miller
Allen Gray Moreno of Harris
Averitt Green Moreno of El Paso
Bailey Grusendorf Morrison
Berman Gutierrez Mowery
Bonnen Haggerty Naishtat
Bosse Hamric Najera
Brimer Hardcastle Nixon
Brown of Kaufman Hartnett Noriega
Brown of Brazos Hawley Oliveira
Burnam Heflin Olivo
Callegari Hilbert Pickett
Capelo Hilderbran Pitts
Carter Hill Puente
Chavez Hinojosa Ramsay
Chisum Hochberg Rangel
Christian Hodge Raymond
Clark Homer Reyna of Bexar
Coleman Hope Reyna of Dallas
Cook Hopson Ritter
Corte Howard Sadler
Counts Hunter Salinas
Crabb Hupp Seaman
Craddick Isett Shields
Crownover Janek Smith
Danburg Jones of Lubbock Smithee
Davis of Harris Jones of Bexar Solis
Davis of Dallas Jones of Dallas Solomons
Delisi Junell Swinford
Denny Keel Talton
Deshotel Keffer Telford
Driver King of Parker Thompson
Dukes King of Uvalde Tillery
Dunnam Kitchen Truitt
Dutton Kolkhorst Turner of Coleman
Edwards Krusee Turner of Harris
Ehrhardt Kuempel Uher
Eiland Lewis of Tarrant Uresti
Elkins Lewis of Orange Villarreal
Ellis Longoria Walker
Farabee Luna West
Farrar McCall Williams
Flores McClendon Wilson
Gallego McReynolds Wise
Garcia Madden Wohlgemuth
George Marchant Wolens
Geren Martinez Fischer Woolley
Giddings Maxey Yarbrough
Glaze Menendez Zbranek
_______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 1057 was unanimously adopted by a
rising vote of the House on May 14, 2001.
_______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House