SR1066: SR1066 Clay IV, Alexander Stephens "Steve"; condolences

This is a Georgia Senate resolution, a formal statement rather than a change to state law. It recognizes the life of Alexander Stephens "Steve" Clay IV, a longtime Atlanta attorney who practiced for 48 years at the law firm now known as Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton, served in senior leadership there, and built an international reputation in arbitration. The resolution recounts his education, career, and civic work, including founding the Board of Directors of the Georgia Appleseed Center for Law & Justice and receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Anti-Defamation League of Atlanta in 2011. The Senate resolves to honor his legacy and extend condolences to his family, and directs the Secretary of the Senate to send copies of the resolution to his family and to the Georgia Appleseed Center for Law & Justice.

• Formally honors and celebrates the life and legacy of Alexander Stephens "Steve" Clay IV on behalf of the Georgia Senate.
• Expresses the Senate's condolences to Clay's family, friends, and colleagues following his death on November 21, 2025.
• Directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare and distribute copies of the resolution to Clay's family and to the Georgia Appleseed Center for Law & Justice.
• Does not create, amend, or repeal any Georgia statute; it is a commemorative statement rather than binding law.

The resolution directly concerns the family of Alexander Stephens "Steve" Clay IV, including his wife Helen Harrison Straus Clay, as well as the Georgia Appleseed Center for Law & Justice and his former colleagues at the law firm Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton.

While it carries no legal or regulatory effect, the resolution is an official public acknowledgment by the Georgia Senate of a private citizen's career and civic contributions, and it results in copies being formally delivered to his family and to Georgia Appleseed.

• The whereas clauses recount Clay's education, his 48-year legal career at Kilpatrick & Cody/Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton, and his role in the firm's 1997 merger with Petree Stockton.
• The whereas clauses describe his international arbitration work and his founding role on the Board of Directors of the Georgia Appleseed Center for Law & Justice.
• The resolving clause has the Senate honor his life and legacy and express condolences to his family, friends, and colleagues.
• The further resolving clause directs the Secretary of the Senate to distribute copies of the resolution to his family and to the Georgia Appleseed Center for Law & Justice.

1. 2026-03-31Senate Read and Adopted (Senate)
2. 2026-03-27Senate Hopper (Senate)

• RaShaun Kemp (D, SD-038)Primary sponsor
• Kenya Wicks (D, SD-034)
• Elena Parent (D, SD-044)
• Randal Mangham (D, SD-055)
• Gail Davenport (D, SD-017)
• Donzella James (D, SD-028)

• condolence resolution
• Georgia Senate
• Georgia Appleseed
• legal profession