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. Gonzales of Hidalgo ______________________________ Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 1522 was adopted by the House on May 5, 2011, by a non-record vote. ______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House