82R27881 BPG-D
By: Pena H.R. No. 2116
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The untimely death of Jaime J. Zapata of Edinburg on
December 16, 2010, at the age of 35, brought a great loss to his
family, friends, and fellow firefighters; and
WHEREAS, A lifelong resident of Edinburg, "Bino" Zapata was
the son of Romeo and Carmen Zapata; he graduated from Edinburg High
School, where he was the starting linebacker for the Mighty Bobcat
football team and a member of the baseball team; in his senior year,
he was voted Most Valuable Player on the football team, and he
received numerous awards at the sports banquet; and
WHEREAS, This civic-minded Texan joined the institutional
division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, and he was
employed for 13 years as a correctional officer in maximum security
at the McConnell Unit and then at the Lopez State Jail; deeply
committed to his work, he strove to support the agency's mission to
protect the public, promote positive change in offender behavior,
help offenders reintegrate into society, and assist victims of
crime; Mr. Zapata served as an officer in the Community Service
Department, transporting offenders to surrounding communities and
providing supervision on projects benefiting public land and
buildings; for his contributions to Estero Llano Grande Park, he
received accolades from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department;
and
WHEREAS, Dedicated to public safety, Mr. Zapata joined the
Edinburg Volunteer Fire Department and served as a lieutenant; he
found his true calling and went on to become a full-time firefighter
for the City of Mission; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Zapata was a parishioner at Sacred Heart
Catholic Church; above all, he was devoted to his wife, Janie, and
his five children, Debra, Dalayna, Kylea, Kalea, and Bo; and
WHEREAS, Bino Zapata lived a rich and purposeful life
centered around his family, his work, and his community, and he will
forever hold a special place in the hearts of those who were
fortunate enough to know him; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Jaime J. "Bino"
Zapata and extend sincere condolences to the members of his family:
to his wife, Janie Zapata; to his children, Debra Saldana, Dalayna
Saldana, Kylea Rae Zapata, Kalea Sue Zapata, and Bo Cambel Zapata;
to his parents, Romeo and Carmen Zapata; to his sister, Elizabeth
Ann Truszkowski; to his grandmother, Eustolia Zapata; and to his
many other relatives and friends; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of
Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Bino
Zapata.