82R17513 JGH-D
By: Guillen H.R. No. 1238
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Rancher and civic leader James Edwin Peterson of Rio
Grande City contributed greatly to the betterment of his community
until his death on April 30, 2006; and
WHEREAS, James Peterson was born in McAllen on November 29,
1944, to Arvid Verner and Dorothy Peterson; he graduated from Rio
Grande City High School in 1963 and went on to earn his bachelor's
degree from Texas A&I University in 1967; and
WHEREAS, After teaching school for a year in Alice, Mr.
Peterson began a career in farming and ranching that lasted nearly
four decades; he was first employed by Starrco Farms, a produce
wholesaler, and then joined Suntex Dairy, where he worked until his
retirement; he was also the owner and operator of Peterson
Beefmasters in Starr County; and
WHEREAS, Throughout his life, Mr. Peterson was actively
engaged in the life of Rio Grande City and Starr County; the
president of the Starr County Fair Association, he also chaired the
fair's Livestock and Validation Committees; in addition, he was
director of the Medina Electric Cooperative and a member of the
board of the Starr County Appraisal District; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Peterson's involvement in agricultural
organizations included service as president of the Starr County
Farm Bureau, as treasurer of the board of the Rio Grande Growers
Co-op, as a member of the Farm Service Agency County Committee, and
as chair of the Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee of the
Cooperative Extension Program of Prairie View A&M University; and
WHEREAS, A man of strong religious faith, he served as
assistant Sunday school superintendent and chair of the building
and grounds committee for First Baptist Church of Rio Grande City;
his devotion to assisting area youth was reflected in his 28-year
tenure as a football official, and he was president of the Rio
Grande Valley Federation of the Southwest Football Officials
Association; he also helped guide young lives as a Little League
coach, a Cub Scout den father, and a 4-H leader; and
WHEREAS, After his death, the 2007 Starr County Fair was
dedicated to his memory, with the theme "James Peterson--Farmer,
Rancher, Volunteer"; moreover, the fairgrounds contain two
tributes to this respected citizen: the James Peterson Memorial
Building and a plaque dedicated in his honor by the San Isidro
Independent School District; in 2006, the Texas Farm Bureau
posthumously gave him its prestigious Pioneer Award for his many
contributions to agriculture; and
WHEREAS, James Peterson dedicated himself to the service of
others during his years on this earth, and his legacy continues to
resonate in the community he was proud to call home; now, therefore,
be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of James Edwin Peterson
and acknowledge his enduring work in behalf of the people of Rio
Grande City and Starr County.