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SENATE RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas honors and |
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commemorates the remarkable life of David Gray Hall, who died on |
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October 11, 2023, at the age of 81; and |
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WHEREAS, David Hall was born on November 10, 1941, in |
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Baytown; after graduating from high school, he attended The |
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University of Texas at Austin, where he served as a member of the |
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Silver Spurs and was honored as a University of Texas Goodfellow; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, David devoted his life to serving others through |
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his various professional pursuits and was deeply committed to the |
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cause of justice; he served in the Peace Corps in Venezuela for |
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two years before completing his law degree, and he went on to work |
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as an attorney for the United Farm Workers Union and the American |
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Civil Liberties Union; and |
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WHEREAS, A champion for the rights of the oppressed, David |
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made tremendous contributions to the advancement of justice |
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throughout the Rio Grande Valley region through his service as |
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the director of Texas RioGrande Legal Aid; he was an advocate for |
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the equal representation of Mexican Americans and defended the |
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rights of migrant farmworkers for more than 40 years until his |
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retirement in 2018; and |
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WHEREAS, Under his outstanding leadership, the group |
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launched the state's first nonprofit public defender services, |
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established pro se clinics throughout border counties, assisted |
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in transnational litigation involving parental custody disputes, |
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and bolstered representation for children jailed by immigration |
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authorities, among a number of other commendable initiatives; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, A man of wisdom, determination, and integrity, |
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David was named one of the greatest Texas lawyers of the past |
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century by Texas Lawyer for his exceptional contributions to his |
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profession, and he trained and mentored countless young |
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attorneys representing asylum seekers to fight for their clients |
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with courage and conviction; and |
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WHEREAS, David was a devoted husband to his beloved wife of |
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nearly 27 years, Pamela, and a loving father to his two |
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daughters, Allison and Lynn; he is also survived by his niece and |
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nephew, and his four grandchildren were a source of great pride |
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and joy to him; and |
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WHEREAS, David was an intrepid defender of justice and a |
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leader in creating meaningful and lasting change in the field of |
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law; he was a source of hope and inspiration to his colleagues, |
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clients, and countless others, and he leaves behind memories that |
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will be forever cherished by his loved ones and by all who were |
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privileged to know him and to share in his life; now, therefore, |
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be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 88th |
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Legislature, 4th Called Session, hereby extend sincere |
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condolences to the bereaved family of David Gray Hall; and, be it |
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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 David Hall. |