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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Memories of a life well lived may help to comfort |
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those saddened by the passing of Jerry Strickland Harris of |
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Longview on May 26, 2023, at the age of 88; and |
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WHEREAS, Jerry Harris was born in Marshall on March 4, 1935, |
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to Ouida Lathem and James Colbert Harris; he was raised by his |
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beloved aunt and uncle, Lula Belle and Exl Strickland, and he grew |
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up with the companionship of a brother, Louis; a star athlete at |
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Marshall High School, he earned a full scholarship to play football |
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for Rice University, and he went on to receive the 1958 George |
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R. Martin Award as the team's most valuable player; after |
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graduating from Rice, he completed his studies at Baylor University |
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School of Law in 1960; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Harris subsequently moved to Longview, and he |
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eventually joined a local law firm where he practiced for more than |
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six decades; along the way, he used his skills and legal acumen to |
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help many clients and also served as a mentor to a number of |
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aspiring attorneys; he continued to practice law up until his last |
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days; and |
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WHEREAS, In 1961, Mr. Harris married Claire Roberts, and they |
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were blessed with three children, Miriam, Melissa, and Houston; |
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after that marriage ended, he was fortunate enough to find love |
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again with Risa Horner Harris, with whom he shared the last four |
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decades of his life; in his leisure time, he enjoyed outdoor |
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activities like fishing, golfing, hunting, and skiing, and he had |
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many happy memories of spending summers in Colorado and taking |
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fishing trips to Lake Cherokee and Caddo Lake; he was known as a |
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dear friend and a trusted listener, and he was also blessed with a |
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wonderful sense of humor and a keen ability to help others see their |
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own potential; and |
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WHEREAS, Jerry Harris distinguished himself through his |
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unwavering commitment to his profession and to his loved ones, and |
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he leaves behind a legacy that will long be remembered; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the 88th Texas Legislature, 2nd |
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Called Session, hereby pay tribute to the life of Jerry Strickland |
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Harris and extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to |
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his wife, Risa Horner Harris; to his daughter, Miriam Jones, and her |
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sons, Harris and Houston; to his daughter, Melissa McDonald, her |
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husband, Scott, and their daughters and sons-in-law, Alexis and |
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Scott Moody and Julia and Nolan Chumbley; to his son, Houston |
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Harris, his wife, Dawn, and their children, Mary and Houston; to his |
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stepson, James Singleton; to his great-grandson, Mac Moody; and to |
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his other relatives and 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 Senate adjourns this |
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day, it do so in memory of Jerry Harris. |