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SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 558
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In Memory |
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of |
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Billy James Smith |
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WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas honors and |
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commemorates the life of Billy James Smith; and |
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WHEREAS, Billy Smith was an exemplary citizen who was |
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widely respected and admired in his community for his courage and |
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perseverance in working to reform the Texas Criminal Justice |
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System; and |
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WHEREAS, A native of Sherman, Mr. Smith was a graduate of |
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L. G. Pinkston High School in Dallas and had been a delivery |
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driver in the transportation industry; he and his wife, Emily |
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Kaye Smith, were blessed with four children and with five |
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grandchildren and three great-grandchildren; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Smith served nearly 20 years of a prison |
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sentence for a crime he did not commit, and he was exonerated in |
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2006 by DNA evidence; he then dedicated himself to improving the |
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criminal justice system in Texas so that others would not face the |
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same ordeal; he was a staunch supporter of the Innocence Project of |
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Texas and testified on pieces of legislation regarding eyewitness |
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identification, electronic recording of interrogations, and the |
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Tim Cole Compensation Act; and |
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WHEREAS, He was a founding member of the nonprofit |
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organization Exonerated Brothers of Texas, and he was in much |
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demand as a speaker at police departments, schools, colleges and |
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universities, and organizations like the Center for American and |
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International Law; his courageous and determined efforts to |
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reform and improve the criminal justice system were an |
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inspiration to all who knew him; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 85th |
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Legislature, hereby extend sincere condolences to the bereaved |
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family of Billy James Smith; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for |
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his family as an expression of deepest sympathy from the Texas |
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Senate and that when the Senate adjourns this day, it do so in |
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memory of Billy James Smith. |
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West |
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________________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
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I hereby certify that the |
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above Resolution was adopted by |
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the Senate on April 3, 2017, by a |
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rising vote. |
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________________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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________________________________ |
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Member, Texas Senate |