Bill Text: TX SR236 | 2015-2016 | 84th Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: In memory of Cleophas R. Steele Jr.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2015-02-23 - Reported enrolled [SR236 Detail]
Download: Texas-2015-SR236-Enrolled.html
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In Memory | ||
of | ||
Cleophas R. Steele Jr. | ||
WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas joins the citizens | ||
of Dallas County in mourning the loss of Constable Cleophas R. | ||
Steele Jr., who died February 18, 2015, at the age of 69; and | ||
WHEREAS, Cleo Steele was born on July 13, 1945; he was one | ||
of the first African Americans to graduate from Southern | ||
Methodist University School of Law, and he began his legal career | ||
by working for the Dallas Legal Services Project, which provides | ||
assistance to low-income clients in civil matters; and | ||
WHEREAS, He went on to found one of the first black law | ||
firms in Dallas, and he was one of the city's first attorneys to | ||
sign a petition supporting the desegregation of the Dallas public | ||
schools; during those years, he also served for a time as an | ||
associate municipal judge; and | ||
WHEREAS, He served the citizens of Dallas County for more | ||
than three decades as a justice of the peace; during his tenure, | ||
he was noted for his fairness and impartiality, his thorough | ||
knowledge of the law, and his commitment to the principle that | ||
his court belonged to the people; and | ||
WHEREAS, Mr. Steele demonstrated his dedication to public | ||
service when he came out of retirement in 2012 to serve as | ||
constable of Dallas County Precinct 1; among the awards and | ||
honors he received through the years was the Dallas Bar | ||
Association's 2002 Martin Luther King Jr. Justice Award; and | ||
WHEREAS, A devout Christian who practiced his faith in his | ||
daily life, he was a longtime member of Good Street Baptist | ||
Church, where he served for many years as a deacon and as a member | ||
of the board of trustees; and | ||
WHEREAS, He was a man of courage, strength, and wisdom who | ||
gave unselfishly to others; he will be remembered for his | ||
kindness, his remarkable composure under pressure, and his | ||
enthusiasm for living each day to the fullest; and | ||
WHEREAS, He was devoted to his beloved wife, Barbara, and | ||
to their children, and he will be deeply missed by all who were | ||
privileged to share in his life; now, therefore, be it | ||
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 84th | ||
Legislature, hereby extend sincere condolences to the bereaved | ||
family of Cleophas R. Steele Jr.; and, be it further | ||
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for | ||
his family as an expression of deepest sympathy from the Texas | ||
Senate and that when the Senate adjourns this day, it do so in | ||
memory of Cleo Steele. | ||
West | ||
________________________________ | ||
President of the Senate | ||
I hereby certify that the | ||
above Resolution was adopted by | ||
the Senate on February 23, 2015, | ||
by a rising vote. | ||
________________________________ | ||
Secretary of the Senate | ||
________________________________ | ||
Member, Texas Senate |