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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Memories of a life filled with joyful times and |
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meaningful accomplishments remain to comfort the family and friends |
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of Reich O'Hara Chandler of Lufkin, who passed away on October 21, |
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2006, at the age of 39; and |
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WHEREAS, Born on December 28, 1966, Reich Chandler graduated |
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in 1985 from Lufkin High School, where he was a state and nationally |
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ranked tennis player; he attended Baylor University on a full |
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tennis scholarship and went on to win the 1989 Southwest Conference |
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doubles championship and the Baylor University Scholar-Athlete |
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Award; and |
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WHEREAS, Earning a bachelor's degree in history, Mr. Chandler |
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subsequently earned a juris doctorate in 1992 and embarked on a |
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career as a trial lawyer with Andrews & Kurth, LLP, in Houston and |
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Dallas; in 1995, he returned to his hometown and joined his father |
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at the Chandler Law Offices; and |
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WHEREAS, This esteemed attorney distinguished himself |
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through his leadership in several professional organizations, |
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including the Texas Trial Lawyers Association, which he served as a |
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member of the executive committee and as a longtime member of the |
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board; moreover, he was a former president of the East Texas Trial |
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Lawyers and of the Young Advocates of Texas, and he was elected a |
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member of the American Board of Trial Advocates; recognized as a |
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Texas Monthly Super Lawyer for several years in a row, he was |
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awarded the highest rating from the Martindale-Hubbell Law |
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Directory; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Chandler married the love of his life, the |
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former Nancy Hanks, on November 3, 2000, and together they enjoyed |
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traveling to numerous distant locales; deeply devoted to his |
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family, Mr. Chandler took great pleasure in sharing the morning |
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paper with his daughter, Sydney, whom he affectionately called |
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"Muffin"; and |
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WHEREAS, Motivated by a genuine desire to help people, Mr. |
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Chandler inspired others with his passionate pursuit of justice and |
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his zest for life; an avid reader and engaging conversationalist, |
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he enthusiastically supported his alma mater through his |
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participation in the Baylor Letterman's Association, and he was a |
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faithful member of the First Baptist Church of Lufkin; and |
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WHEREAS, Although his life ended far too soon, Reich Chandler |
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leaves behind a legacy of warmth, optimism, and courage that will |
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forever be treasured by all those fortunate enough to have shared in |
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the richness of his life; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 80th Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Reich O'Hara Chandler |
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and extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to his |
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wife, Nancy Hanks Chandler; to his daughter, Sydney Harper |
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Chandler; to his parents, George and Martha Chandler; to his |
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sister, Kelly Michaels, and her husband, Jimmy; to his grandfather, |
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O'Hara Chandler; to his in-laws, H. A. and Jean Hanks, Helen Hanks, |
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and Julie Gilliland and her husband, Tim; to his nine nieces and |
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nephews; and to his other relatives and many friends; and, be it |
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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 Reich |
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O'Hara Chandler. |