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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 life of Michael Joseph Westergren, who died July |
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17, 2025, at the age of 78; and |
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WHEREAS, Michael Westergren was born on August 10, 1946, |
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in Corpus Christi; talented and determined from a young age, he |
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was diagnosed with a congenital heart condition and underwent |
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experimental open-heart surgery at the age of 17, which helped to |
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advance practices in the field of cardiology, and he went on to |
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excel in his studies at Del Mar College and at The University of |
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Texas at Austin School of Law; and |
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WHEREAS, After earning his legal degree in 1970, he |
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devoted his career to the practice of law and earned esteem as a |
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public servant and as an expert mediator in private practice; he |
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served the people of Texas with fairness and impartiality as a |
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justice of the peace, county attorney, and district court judge, |
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and he presided over one of the Lone Star State's most publicized |
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criminal cases, the 1995 trial for the murder of beloved Tejano |
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music singer Selena Quintanilla-Pérez; after an exemplary |
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tenure, Judge Westergren retired from the bench in 2000, and he |
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went on to serve for five years as the first in-house counsel for |
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Del Mar College; and |
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WHEREAS, Mike shared a rewarding marriage with his first |
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wife, the late Carolyn Sliter Westergren, and he was blessed to |
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again find love in his life and married Frances Morey, with whom |
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he shared many happy years; he was a devoted father to his two |
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children, Kathleen and Michael, and his grandsons, his stepsons, |
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and his many other loving extended family members enriched his |
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life immeasurably; and |
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WHEREAS, Known among friends, colleagues, and members of |
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the press for his boundless charm and signature bowtie, Mike |
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embraced life with enthusiasm, and his numerous passions, |
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interests, and pastimes included art, music, travel, chess, and a |
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range of fitness and outdoor activities; Mike cherished time |
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spent and meals shared with family and friends, and he was a |
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devout Catholic and a lifelong Rotarian who gave generously of |
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his time and energy to serve others in need in his community; and |
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WHEREAS, Michael Westergren was a distinguished judge and |
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legal expert and a treasured Texan and member of the Corpus |
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Christi community, and he will long be remembered with great |
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respect and admiration by his many loved ones and by all who were |
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privileged to share in his life; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 89th |
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Legislature, 2nd Called Session, hereby extend sincere |
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condolences to the bereaved family of Michael Joseph Westergren; |
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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 Mike Westergren. |