By Junell                                             H.R. No. 1057
         77R5091 MDM-D                           
                                 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.