--- title: SR 1074. Apple Jr., MD, David; condolences collection: bills id: 2025-2026/sr1074 cite_as: SR 1074, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr1074 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr1074.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr1074/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/74593 date: 2026-03-31 status: passed corpus_version: bills-2026-09-13 license: Public record of the Georgia General Assembly, via LegiScan; see about.md publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice. up: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026.md previous: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr1073.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr1075.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 94 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr1074.md?full=1 bill_number: SR 1074 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: Senate bill_type: resolution status_date: 2026-03-31 last_action: Senate Read and Adopted sponsors: - Sonya Halpern text_version: Enrolled has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SR1074/2025 upstream_id: 2139598 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - memorial resolution - Shepherd Center - rehabilitative medicine - Georgia Senate --- # SR 1074. Apple Jr., MD, David; condolences ## Text Senate Resolution 1074 By: Senator Halpern of the 39th A RESOLUTION Honoring the life and memory of David Apple Jr., MD; and for other purposes. WHEREAS, David Apple Jr., MD, was an 89-year-old Atlanta resident who was married to Jane Apple for 63 years; had four children, Stephanie, Karen, David, and Megan; and was grandfather to 12 grandchildren; and WHEREAS, he helped co-found the Shepherd Center in 1975 with Alana, Harold, and James Shepherd; and WHEREAS, Dr. Apple served as the Shepherd Center's medical director for 31 years, helping people with spinal cord injuries, brain injuries, and other neurological injuries and conditions return home to their families, to their careers, and to the things they love; and WHEREAS, he founded the Shepherd Center's Recreation Therapy Program, helping thousands of patients find passion and purpose after injury or illness; and WHEREAS, he was a renowned expert in his field, leading research, helping found professional organizations and journals, and mentoring generations of clinicians and scientists; and WHEREAS, he changed the world of rehabilitative medicine and everyone he met with heart, humor, and an unshakable belief in what is possible. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body join in honoring the life and memory of David Apple Jr., MD, and express their most sincere appreciation for his contributions to medicine and humanity. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for distribution to the family of David Apple Jr., MD. ## Summaries written by Georgia Commons The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the resolution. Quote the text, not the summary. A Georgia Senate resolution honors the life of Dr. David Apple Jr., an Atlanta physician who co-founded and led the Shepherd Center, a spinal cord and brain injury rehabilitation hospital. ### Plain-language summary This resolution is a memorial passed by the Georgia Senate to recognize David Apple Jr., MD, an Atlanta doctor who died at age 89. It recounts his family life and his decades of work in rehabilitative medicine, including co-founding the Shepherd Center in 1975 and serving as its medical director for 31 years. The resolution does not change any Georgia law. It formally states the Senate's appreciation for Dr. Apple's contributions to medicine and directs the Secretary of the Senate to send a copy of the resolution to his family. ### What it does - Formally honors the life and memory of David Apple Jr., MD, on behalf of the Georgia Senate. - Recounts his role co-founding the Shepherd Center in 1975 and serving as its medical director for 31 years. - Notes his creation of the Shepherd Center's Recreation Therapy Program for patients recovering from injury or illness. - Directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare a copy of the resolution for distribution to his family. ### Who it affects The resolution directly names the family of David Apple Jr., MD, who will receive a copy, and reflects the Georgia Senate's recognition of his work at the Shepherd Center, a rehabilitation hospital serving people with spinal cord and brain injuries. ### Why it matters The resolution carries no legal or funding effect; it is a symbolic gesture. Its practical impact is limited to formally recording the Senate's tribute and providing his family with an official copy honoring his career in rehabilitative medicine. ### Key provisions - The whereas clauses describe Dr. Apple's family, his co-founding of the Shepherd Center in 1975, and his 31 years as its medical director. - The resolved clause states the Senate's appreciation for his contributions to medicine and humanity. - The final clause directs the Secretary of the Senate to provide a copy of the resolution to his family. ## Status - Status: Passed (2026-03-31) - Last action: Senate Read and Adopted (2026-03-31) - Sponsors: Sonya Halpern - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/74593 > The history, votes, and amendments (94 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr1074.md?full=1