44th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2000

REMEMBERING DONNAN STEPHENSON, FORMER SUPREME COURT JUSTICE, VETERAN AND LOYAL NEW MEXICAN.

WHEREAS, at the age of eighty, former state supreme court justice Donnan Stephenson died on Monday, January 10, 2000 ; and

WHEREAS, he was a member of the state supreme court from 1971 to 1976, winning election twice before resigning to go into private practice, fulfilling a lawyer's obligation to "perform judicial service"; and

WHEREAS, he worked on several procedural changes designed to speed the judicial process while he was a member of the court; and

WHEREAS, he was a founding member of the Stephenson and Olmsted law firm in 1962; and

WHEREAS, he served our country in the United States navy during World War II, was awarded the Bronze Star and retired as a lieutenant commander in the naval reserve; and

WHEREAS, he graduated from the university of Kansas and the university of Kansas law school; and

WHEREAS, he gave to many charities, including the Donnan Stephenson lecture series at his alma mater; and

WHEREAS, he is preceded in death by his wife, Patricia Stephenson; and

WHEREAS, he is survived by his sons, Mark and Bruce Stephenson and three grandchildren, Autumn, Quinn and Erin Li Stephenson;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that condolences be extended to the family and friends of Donnan Stephenson, a distinguished lawyer, judge and devoted New Mexican; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the friends and family of Donnan Stephenson.