2011 Assembly Joint Resolution 57
ENROLLED JOINT RESOLUTION
Relating to: the life and public service of Richard Lyman Cates.
Whereas, Richard Lyman Cates was born on November 22, 1925, in New York City, New York, and died on August 3, 2011, at the age of 85; and
Whereas, Richard Lyman Cates served in the United States Marine Corps during World War II and was about to be deployed for the Pacific when World War II ended; and
Whereas, Richard Lyman Cates returned to the East Coast after the war and cut timber in Maine and graduated from Dartmouth College in 1947; and
Whereas, Richard Lyman Cates received his law degree from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 1951; and
Whereas, Richard Lyman Cates married Margaret Keen Lessig after he graduated from law school and they had five children: Richard Cates, Jr., John Cates, David Cates, Robert Cates, and Christine Jendrzejewski; and
Whereas, Richard Lyman Cates and his wife, Marnie, moved to North Carolina, where he served a second time with the Marines during the Korean War; and
Whereas, Richard Lyman Cates began his law practice in Madison, Wisconsin, in 1953 and became a founding member of the Lawton and Cates law firm in Madison in 1958; and
Whereas, Richard Lyman Cates's philosophy in practicing law was to represent each client with the highest possible level of skill, ability, and personal integrity to maintain the public's belief in and respect for the legal system, which provides freedom and preserves human dignity; and
Whereas, Richard Lyman Cates served as a public defender, one term in the state assembly, two terms on the University of Wisconsin Board of Visitors, one term on the Madison Board of Education, and two terms on the State Bar Board of Governors; and
Whereas, Richard Lyman Cates was appointed associate special general counsel to the U.S. House Judiciary Committee and served in that capacity from November 1973 to August 1974 in charge of investigating and presenting the evidence leading to the impeachment and resignation of President Richard Nixon; and
Whereas, Richard Lyman Cates taught law at the University of Wisconsin from 1956 to 1980 and at McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento, California, from 1983 to 1985; and
Whereas, Richard Lyman Cates's joy in the adventure of living and learning, along with his humor, wisdom, humility, curiosity, kindness, and love, made him a great teacher of his students, colleagues, friends, and family; and
Whereas, Richard Lyman Cates practiced law until his retirement in 1990 and then served as president of the Ice Age Park and Trail Association Foundation, on the Committee on Campaign Finance Reform, with the Institute on Aging, and on the board of the Marshall Erdman Foundation; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the assembly, the senate concurring, That the members of the Wisconsin legislature commend the life and public service of Richard Lyman Cates, mourn his passing, and extend their condolences to his family and friends; and, be it further
Resolved, That the assembly chief clerk shall provide a copy of this joint resolution to Richard Lyman Cates's wife, Marnie, and their family.
