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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, A life made rich through meaningful service drew to |
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a close with the passing of William Ryle Edwards Jr. of Corpus |
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Christi on March 13, 2023, at the age of 91; and |
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WHEREAS, The son of Catherine and William Edwards, Bill |
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Edwards was born in Jersey City, New Jersey, on August 25, 1931, and |
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he grew up in Virginia with the companionship of his brother, Jack; |
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he graduated from Staunton Military Academy and went on to receive |
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both his bachelor's degree and his law degree from the University of |
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Virginia; a talented diver, he won the Virginia title for low-board |
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diving and the Amateur Athletic Union state championship for |
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high-board diving; in 1953, he joined the U.S. Army; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Edwards moved to Texas to embark on his legal |
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career, joining the firm of Baker Botts in Houston; shortly |
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thereafter, he relocated to Corpus Christi and eventually opened |
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his own personal injury practice, The Edwards Law Firm; he was |
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active in a number of statewide professional organizations and |
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served as president of the Texas Trial Lawyers Association in 1968, |
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on the board of governors for the Association of Trial Lawyers of |
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America, and as a Fellow of the International Academy of Trial |
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Lawyers; in the course of his service to his community and state, he |
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advocated to change the law in Texas for people receiving |
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compensation; and |
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WHEREAS, In his leisure time, Mr. Edwards was an avid |
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fisherman and also enjoyed hunting, gardening, ranching, and |
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playing handball; while he was committed to "what was right," he |
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never failed to enjoy the luxuries of life and also appreciated |
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Texas' nature; and |
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WHEREAS, Although he will be deeply missed, the passage of |
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time will never diminish the joy and love that Bill Edwards brought |
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into the lives of all who knew him; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of William Ryle |
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Edwards Jr. and extend heartfelt condolences to the members of his |
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family: to his wife, Sally Lander; to his children, Terry Baiamonte |
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and her husband, Rob, Margaret "Libby" Edwards Pender and her |
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husband, Frank, William R. "Billy" Edwards III and his wife, Paula, |
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and Dr. Margaret Lander Rising; to his grandchildren, Lander Beck |
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Baiamonte, Benjamin Scott Baiamonte and his wife, Caroline, Stewart |
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Randall Mann and his wife, Carrie, William Price Salem, William R. |
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"Ryle" Edwards IV, John A. "Alex" Edwards, Jack Edwards Rising, and |
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Linn Edwards Rising; to his great-grandchildren, Conlee Stewart |
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Mann and Everett Ames Mann; and to his many other relatives and |
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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 House of |
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Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Bill |
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Edwards. |