82R23542 JEN-D
By: Gonzales of Hidalgo H.R. No. 1522
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The 73rd birthday of an esteemed Texan is truly
cause for celebration, and Jose Ramirez Castilleja of McAllen
reached that notable milestone in his life on March 13, 2011; and
WHEREAS, The eldest of 10 children born to Santos and
Marcelina Ramirez Castilleja, Joe Castilleja graduated from
Edinburg High School in 1958; he subsequently joined his father in
the agricultural business, working as a foreman as they picked
oranges and other crops throughout the Rio Grande Valley and East
Texas; and
WHEREAS, In 1961, Mr. Castilleja married his high school
sweetheart, Dominga Pardo; that same year, he was drafted by the
United States Army and was stationed in Frankfurt, Germany, until
1963; he settled in McAllen after concluding his military service
and attended Pan American College; he then sold insurance for First
Security before getting his real estate license and starting his
own business, Pan American Realty, which he ran for 15 years; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Castilleja became a rural route carrier for the
United States Postal Service in the 1970s and continued in that job
for 27 years before retiring in 2003; and
WHEREAS, A parishioner at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic
Church, he is also a member of the American Legion and the Veterans
of Foreign Wars; he takes great enjoyment in spending time with his
family, which today includes 5 children and 13 grandchildren; and
WHEREAS, Joe Castilleja is a source of wisdom and inspiration
to all those who are privileged to know him, and it is a pleasure to
recognize him on 73 years of life well lived; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas
Legislature hereby honor Jose Ramirez Castilleja on his 73rd
birthday and extend to him sincere best wishes for the future; and,
be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Mr. Castilleja as an expression of high regard by the
Texas House of Representatives.