SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 641
         WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to
  recognize Walter Umphrey for his outstanding legal career and his
  lifetime of work as an advocate for those unable to speak for
  themselves; and
 
         WHEREAS, Walter Umphrey is a native of Port Arthur and a
  graduate of Baylor Law School, where his mastery of the school's
  respected Practice Court curriculum presaged a career in which
  his commitment to equal justice and his thorough knowledge of
  the law had a profound impact on the lives of people across the
  state; and
 
         WHEREAS, Mr. Umphrey began his long and distinguished
  legal career as a prosecutor in the Jefferson County District
  Attorney's Office; in 1969, he joined with David Provost to
  create the Provost Umphrey Law Firm, and time and again, on
  behalf of individuals and their families, he won verdicts and
  settlements against even the most powerful companies and
  industries; and
 
         WHEREAS, In 1998, he was named lead counsel for a team of
  attorneys chosen to represent the State of Texas in its
  historic suit against the tobacco industry; he was able to
  engineer the largest civil suit settlement in the nation's
  history, with the state receiving a $15.3 billion award and the
  team of attorneys earning $3.3 billion in legal fees from the
  tobacco companies; and
 
         WHEREAS, He has received numerous honors and accolades for
  his work, including recognition as a Legal Legend by Texas Lawyer
  magazine and inclusion in the Top Texas Lawyers of the 20th
  Century; he is a longtime member of the Texas Trial Lawyer
  Association, which granted him Board Emeritus status, and he was
  named a Fellow of the International Society of Barristers and of
  the Texas Bar Foundation; and
 
         WHEREAS, Since retiring from the practice of law,
  Mr. Umphrey has turned his energy and his efforts toward
  philanthropy, particularly in the field of education; he and his
  wife, Sheila Umphrey, have been incredibly generous in their
  support of Baylor Law School and Lamar University, and he donated
  land to Jefferson County that was used to establish Walter
  Umphrey State Park; and
 
         WHEREAS, Walter Umphrey has had a profound impact on the
  legal profession in Texas, and it is truly fitting that he
  receive special recognition for his career and for his invaluable
  service on behalf of the men and women of this state; now,
  therefore, be it
 
         RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 86th
  Legislature, hereby commend Walter Umphrey on his exceptional
  legal accomplishments and on his extraordinary generosity and
  extend to him best wishes for continued success in all his
  endeavors; and, be it further
         RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for
  him as an expression of high regard from the Texas Senate.
 
  Watson
   
   
   
    ________________________________ 
        President of the Senate
     
        I hereby certify that the
    above Resolution was adopted by
    the Senate on April 25, 2019.
   
   
   
    ________________________________ 
        Secretary of the Senate
   
   
   
    ________________________________ 
         Member, Texas Senate