Recognizing Rosser Coke Newton Sr. for his biography of former Texas governor Richard Coke.

89(R) SR 520 - Enrolled version - Bill Text

SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 520

WHEREAS, Rosser Coke Newton Sr. of Dallas has published an

important biography of our state's 15th governor,
Richard Coke:

Texan
; and

WHEREAS, An indirect descendant of Governor Coke, Mr.

Newton recognized that the politician's life and the

post-Reconstruction era had been largely unexplored; Governor

Coke led the state in its recovery from the upheaval of the Civil

War, quelled lawlessness at the border, and oversaw the drafting

and ratification of the Texas Constitution, which endures as the

state's governing document; elected in 1874, he was a fierce

proponent of states' rights and a critic of federal intervention,

and he went on to serve as a U.S. senator; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Newton conducted extensive research in a wide

range of sources, including first-person accounts,

correspondence, family records, and documentation of debates

during constitutional conventions, the Secession Convention, and

legislative sessions; his book was published in November 2024 by

Stoney Creek Publishing Group, part of the Texas Book Consortium,

which is affiliated with Texas A&M University Press; and

WHEREAS, By profession a prominent businessman, Mr. Newton

collects Texas memorabilia and serves as a trustee for the Dallas

Historical Society; he is a cofounder and co-chair of the Alamo

Letter Society, which places bronze plaques engraved with

William B. Travis's historic "Victory or Death" missive in county

courthouses around the state; and

WHEREAS, Rosser Newton has demonstrated an admirable

commitment to expanding knowledge of our state's fascinating

history, and his work is sure to be appreciated by future

generations; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 89th

Legislature, hereby honor Rosser Coke Newton Sr. for his

biography of former Texas governor Richard Coke and extend to him

sincere best wishes for continued success in his scholarly

endeavors; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That an official copy of this Resolution be

prepared for Mr. Newton as an expression of high regard from the

Texas Senate.

Hall

Alvarado

Hagenbuch

Middleton

Bettencourt

Hancock

Miles

Birdwell

Hinojosa of Hidalgo

Nichols

Blanco

Hinojosa of Nueces

Parker

Campbell

Huffman

Paxton

Cook

Hughes

Perry

Creighton

King

Schwertner

Eckhardt

Kolkhorst

Sparks

Flores

Menéndez

West

Gutierrez

Zaffirini

Patrick, President of the Senate

________________________________

President of the Senate

I hereby certify that the

above Resolution was adopted by

the Senate on May 14, 2025.

________________________________

Secretary of the Senate

________________________________

Member, Texas Senate