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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The life of a respected attorney and former state |
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official came to an end with the untimely passing of Gregory Scott |
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Coleman of Austin on November 23, 2010; and |
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WHEREAS, Born on October 31, 1963, Greg Coleman grew up in a |
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military family and lived in many different locations during his |
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youth, though he came to regard the Lone Star State as his home; as |
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an undergraduate, he earned a bachelor's degree magna cum laude in |
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applied mathematics from Texas A&M and then continued his studies |
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at the university to attain a master's degree summa cum laude in |
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business administration; during his years in College Station, he |
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met his future wife, Stephanie, and the couple later became the |
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parents of three sons, Chase, Austin, and Reid; and |
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WHEREAS, Intent on a career as a lawyer, Mr. Coleman enrolled |
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at The University of Texas School of Law, where he served as the |
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managing editor of the Texas Law Review and received a juris doctor |
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degree with high honors in 1992; he then took the opportunity to |
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broaden his legal knowledge by working as a judicial law clerk for |
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U.S. Court of Appeals judge Edith Hollan Jones and U.S. Supreme |
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Court justice Clarence Thomas; and |
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WHEREAS, Known for his determination and intellectual |
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curiosity, Mr. Coleman applied his talents to the practice of |
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appellate law and quickly built a reputation for success; he |
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initially worked in the Austin office of Weil, Gotshal & Manges, |
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heading the firm's national supreme court and appellate practice; |
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undertaking a broad range of cases, from complex business |
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litigation to public policy and constitutional issues, he provided |
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vital assistance to numerous clients, often on a pro bono basis; and |
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WHEREAS, This accomplished attorney was called to public |
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service in 1999, when he became the first solicitor general of the |
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State of Texas; in addition to skillfully arguing the state's |
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position in its most important legal appeals, he established the |
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high standards of professionalism that have continued to guide the |
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actions of the individuals who have succeeded him in that important |
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post; and |
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WHEREAS, In 2007, Mr. Coleman cofounded the firm of Yetter |
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Coleman, where he continued his stellar record as an appellate |
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lawyer; in the course of his career, he frequently handled cases |
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that were heard by the U.S. Supreme Court, and he had the |
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distinction of arguing more cases before that institution than any |
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other lawyer in Texas; in 2009 alone, he won two closely watched |
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high court rulings, and these triumphs were recognized by the |
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National Law Journal, which named Yetter Coleman to its prestigious |
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Appellate Hot List; moreover, Mr. Coleman's stature was |
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acknowledged by his inclusion on a number of other well-known |
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rankings of top attorneys, including those published by Benchmark |
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Litigation, Corporate Counsel, The American Lawyer, and Texas |
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Monthly; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Coleman was a mentor to numerous young lawyers, |
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serving as an adjunct professor at the South Texas College of Law |
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and the UT School of Law and taking a deep interest in the |
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development of his law firm colleagues; widely admired by his |
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peers, he was a member and president-elect of the Texas Law Review |
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Association, and had served as vice chair and secretary of the Texas |
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Board of Criminal Justice as well as been active in various legal |
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organizations; and |
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WHEREAS, In spite of his professional commitments, this |
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caring husband and father was dedicated to his family and took |
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special delight in accompanying his sons on Gulf of Mexico fishing |
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expeditions; his other interests included reading and taking part |
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in a variety of outdoor activities, and he was a devoted member of |
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the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; and |
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WHEREAS, Though his life ended far too soon, Greg Coleman |
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nonetheless established himself as a lawyer of rare ability whose |
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passion for justice and respect for the truth had a lasting and |
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positive impact on many lives; his legacy of achievement and |
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concern for others will remain an inspiration to all who had the |
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good fortune to know him; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Gregory Scott Coleman |
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and that deepest condolences be extended to the members of his |
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family: to his wife of 23 years, Stephanie Coleman; to his sons, |
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Chase, Austin, and Reid Coleman; to his parents, Harold and Karen |
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Coleman; to his sister, Sherie Olcott; and to his other relatives |
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and many 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 Gregory |
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Coleman. |