H.R. No. 1014
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The Honorable Juan Manuel Escobar, county judge of
Kleberg County, has compiled an exceptional record of public
service; and
WHEREAS, A seventh-generation Tejano, Judge Escobar was born
and raised in Escobares, a Starr County community that was founded
by his ancestor Jose Maria Escobar in 1753; while a student at Roma
High School, he excelled at both academics and athletics and served
as president of the student council; and
WHEREAS, After graduating from high school in 1969, Judge
Escobar enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps and saw combat in Vietnam;
within 15 months of entering the armed forces, he was promoted to
the rank of sergeant; his military awards include the Purple Heart,
Combat Action Ribbon, and Presidential Unit Citation; in addition,
he was selected for membership in the prestigious U.S. Marine Corps
Presidential Honor Guard in Washington, D.C., and while part of
that unit, he served as a pallbearer for presidents Harry S. Truman
and Lyndon B. Johnson; and
WHEREAS, Following his discharge in 1973, Judge Escobar
returned to the Rio Grande Valley and worked as a Starr County
deputy sheriff while earning a bachelor's degree in biology from
Pan American University; he joined the U.S. Border Patrol in 1978
and enjoyed a stellar 25-year career with that agency, rising to
hold the post of senior special agent with an undercover unit, the
Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force; and
WHEREAS, In May 2003, Juan Escobar was elected to the Texas
House of Representatives to fill the unexpired term of
Representative Irma Rangel; during his tenure, which extended to
2009, he was instrumental in the establishment of the Irma Lerma
Rangel College of Pharmacy, located on the campus of Texas A&M
University--Kingsville, and in the creation of the Kenedy County
Groundwater Conservation District; he also worked to address the
problem of beach erosion, and his legislative agenda showed him to
be a forceful advocate for veterans, teachers, the public schools,
higher education, and human services; he served as vice chair of the
Defense Affairs and State-Federal Relations Committee and as a
member of the Border and International Affairs, Criminal
Jurisprudence, House Administration, and Land and Resource
Management Committees; and
WHEREAS, Elected county judge in November 2010, Juan Escobar
has set as his first priorities the creation of more housing in the
county, the boosting of high school graduation rates, and the
improvement of county infrastructure; he also plans to be active in
fostering economic growth and in promoting ecotourism; and
WHEREAS, Judge Escobar has long worked for the betterment of
his community through his involvement in local organizations; among
the many groups to benefit from his talents have been the boards of
trustees of the Brooks County Independent School District and the
Kingsville ISD, both of which he has served as president;
additionally, he is a lay minister and a former administrator for
St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Kingsville, and he is affiliated
with, and has been a commander of, a number of veterans
associations; and
WHEREAS, This esteemed Texan has been named Legislator of the
Year by the Vietnam Veterans of America, the Sierra Club of Texas,
and the Texas affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union; his
outstanding work has also drawn tributes from the Texas Border
Sheriff's Coalition, American GI Forum, and Texas Association of
Mexican American Chambers of Commerce; and
WHEREAS, In all of his endeavors, Judge Escobar enjoys the
love and support of his wife of 39 years, Rosie, his daughter,
Yvonne Yvette, and his son and daughter-in-law, Eduardo Eden and
Marleena; and
WHEREAS, Over a span of four decades, Juan Escobar has
provided skillful, forward-looking leadership in behalf of his
fellow citizens, and he continues tirelessly to seek new avenues
for advancing the common good; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas
Legislature hereby commend the Honorable Juan Manuel Escobar for
his myriad contributions to the Lone Star State and extend to him
sincere appreciation for his distinguished career in public
service; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Judge Escobar as an expression of high regard by the
Texas House of Representatives.
Lozano
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 1014 was adopted by the House on April
7, 2011, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House