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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, A loving family and many friends and colleagues |
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mourn the loss of Gregg A. Cooke of Dallas, an exemplary public |
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servant and a recognized expert in the field of environmental law, |
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who passed away on September 17, 2006, at the age of 51; and |
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WHEREAS, Born in 1955 in Abilene, Gregg Cooke demonstrated |
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his resolve at a young age by taking part in Boy Scout activities, |
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eventually becoming an Eagle Scout; a similar sense of dedication |
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informed his academic pursuits during which he earned a bachelor's |
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degree from Baylor University, a master's degree from the |
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University of Virginia, and a law degree from Baylor; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Cooke began his public service career when he |
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joined the executive staff of Texas Governor Mark White and then |
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turned to private practice at the law firm of Geary, Stahl & Spencer |
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in Dallas; his focus on environmental issues came to the fore when |
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he was appointed chief of the Natural Resources Protection and |
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Energy Division of the Office of the Texas Attorney General; in this |
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capacity, he acted as the state's North American Free Trade |
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Agreement environmental liaison and as the interim general counsel |
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for the Border Environmental Corporation Commission in Juarez, |
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Mexico; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Cooke brought his considerable talents to the |
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national stage in 1998, when President Bill Clinton appointed him |
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the administrator of Region VI for the Environmental Protection |
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Agency; he was retained in this position by President George W. |
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Bush, serving until 2003, and later was appointed to the EPA Clean |
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Air Act Advisory Committee; a passionate environmental champion for |
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all Texans, Mr. Cooke proposed a number of innovative solutions and |
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was well known for bringing together unlikely partners to achieve |
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results; and |
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WHEREAS, In addition to his state and federal assignments, |
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his legal career further encompassed work as an environmental |
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lawyer with Haynes and Boone in Austin and Guida, Slavich & Flores |
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in Dallas and as a consultant with the Global Environment & |
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Technology Foundation of Washington, D.C.; a member of the State |
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Bar of Texas, Mr. Cooke was also active in the community, supporting |
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the Shakespeare Festival of Dallas, serving on the Texas Lyceum |
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board of directors, and attending First United Methodist Church of |
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Dallas, where he was a member of the choir; and |
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WHEREAS, Gregg Cooke was a loving husband and father who |
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enjoyed taking part in youth activities with his daughter and |
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traveling the world with his family; he touched many people with his |
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generosity and compassion and brought them joy with his enthusiasm |
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and quick wit, and these qualities will be greatly missed by all who |
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were fortunate enough to know him; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 80th Texas |
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Legislature hereby honor the life of Gregg A. Cooke and offer |
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sincere condolences to the members of his family: to his wife, |
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Melanie Cooke; to his daughter, Clara Cooke; to his parents, Horace |
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and June Cooke; to his brother, David Cooke, and his wife, Michele; |
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to his brother, Raymond Cooke, and his wife, Pattie; and to his |
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other relatives and many friends; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of |
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Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Gregg A. |
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Cooke. |