H.C.R. No. 15
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, A full and productive life drew to a close with the
passing of esteemed civic leader Pete Almodova Gallego, Jr., of
Alpine on March 4, 2010, at the age of 85; and
WHEREAS, Born in Alpine on February 17, 1925, Mr. Gallego was
the son of Pete Russell Gallego and Victoria Almodova; he came of
age during World War II and served in the United States Army in the
Pacific theater, and he earned the Victory and American Theater
ribbons, a Good Conduct Medal, and a Bronze Star, among other
honors; during his freshman year at Sul Ross State University, he
met Elena Peña, and the couple married the following year; they
later became the parents of four treasured children, Imelda,
Rebecca, Pete, and Robert; and
WHEREAS, The first member of his family to graduate from
college, Mr. Gallego earned his bachelor's degree in business
administration; he joined the family restaurant business, then
known as the Green Cafe, and began serving his community in a
variety of leadership roles; helping Latinos gain access to banking
services, he shared his accounting skills with a credit union
established by a local Catholic priest; he became the first
treasurer of Our Lady of Peace Credit Union, which operated for many
years from the dining room table in his home and then from his cafe
so members could stop by in the evening after their work; he later
served as president, chair, and member of the board as the credit
union grew to become the Alpine Community Credit Union, an
institution with more than $10 million in assets; and
WHEREAS, This dynamic Texan became the first Latino trustee
of the Alpine Independent School District in 1959 and was elected to
four more consecutive three-year terms; he played a key role in the
desegregation of area schools and in the construction of a new high
school, the addition of a wing to Central Elementary School, the
remodeling of the old high school into a united junior high, and the
closure of Centennial School; although some customers boycotted his
restaurant to protest integration, Mr. Gallego remained steadfast;
the school closure and the construction of a new interstate also
affected the business, and he moved it across town, becoming the
first Latino to own commercial property on Holland Avenue; and
WHEREAS, Gallego's Mexican Food Restaurant won a loyal
following among college students in its new location, and
Mr. Gallego expanded its operations, shipping chiles rellenos,
tamales, and masa to stores around the state; through the years, he
helped many young people achieve their dreams by giving them jobs
and donating money for their college funds; in 2001, four years
after his retirement, he was named Paul Forcheimer Business Person
of the Year in recognition of his exceptional contributions to the
community; he continued to volunteer for worthy causes and enjoyed
spending time with his family, maintaining his properties, and
riding his mowing tractor; and
WHEREAS, A man of great generosity, integrity, and
determination, Pete A. Gallego is deeply missed by the host of
people whose lives he touched, but his legacy of achievement
continues to resonate in the community he loved and served so well;
now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the 82nd Legislature of the State of Texas,
1st Called Session, hereby pay tribute to the memory of Pete
Almodova Gallego and extend sincere sympathy to his loved ones: to
his wife of more than six decades, Elena Peña Gallego; to his
daughters, Imelda Gallego Garcia and her husband, Jose Garcia,
R.Ph., and Rebecca P. Gallego, M.D.; to his son, the Honorable Pete
P. Gallego, and his wife, Maria Elena Ramon; to his grandchildren,
Maria Imelda, Maria Elena, and Briana Garcia, Cristina P. Gallego,
and Nicolas Miguel Ramon Gallego; and to his other relatives and
many 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 and Senate adjourn this day, they do so in memory of
Pete A. Gallego, Jr.
Coleman
Hochberg
Castro
Martinez
Walle
Straus Gonzalez Munoz, Jr. Straus Gonzalez Munoz, Jr.
Straus Gonzalez Munoz, Jr.
Aliseda Gooden Murphy Aliseda Gooden Murphy
Aliseda Gooden Murphy
Allen Guillen Naishtat Allen Guillen Naishtat
Allen Guillen Naishtat
Alonzo Gutierrez Nash Alonzo Gutierrez Nash
Alonzo Gutierrez Nash
Alvarado Hamilton Oliveira Alvarado Hamilton Oliveira
Alvarado Hamilton Oliveira
Anchia Hancock Orr Anchia Hancock Orr
Anchia Hancock Orr
Anderson of Dallas Hardcastle Otto Anderson of Dallas Hardcastle Otto
Anderson of Dallas Hardcastle Otto
Anderson of McLennan Harless Parker Anderson of McLennan Harless Parker
Anderson of McLennan Harless Parker
Aycock Harper-Brown Patrick Aycock Harper-Brown Patrick
Aycock Harper-Brown Patrick
Beck Hartnett Paxton Beck Hartnett Paxton
Beck Hartnett Paxton
Berman Hernandez Luna Pena Berman Hernandez Luna Pena
Berman Hernandez Luna Pena
Bohac Hilderbran Perry Bohac Hilderbran Perry
Bohac Hilderbran Perry
Bonnen Hochberg Phillips Bonnen Hochberg Phillips
Bonnen Hochberg Phillips
Branch Hopson Pickett Branch Hopson Pickett
Branch Hopson Pickett
Brown Howard of Fort Bend Pitts Brown Howard of Fort Bend Pitts
Brown Howard of Fort Bend Pitts
Burkett Howard of Travis Price Burkett Howard of Travis Price
Burkett Howard of Travis Price
Burnam Huberty Quintanilla Burnam Huberty Quintanilla
Burnam Huberty Quintanilla
Button Hughes Raymond Button Hughes Raymond
Button Hughes Raymond
Cain Hunter Reynolds Cain Hunter Reynolds
Cain Hunter Reynolds
Callegari Isaac Riddle Callegari Isaac Riddle
Callegari Isaac Riddle
Carter Jackson Ritter Carter Jackson Ritter
Carter Jackson Ritter
Castro Johnson Rodriguez Castro Johnson Rodriguez
Castro Johnson Rodriguez
Chisum Keffer Schwertner Chisum Keffer Schwertner
Chisum Keffer Schwertner
Christian King of Parker Scott Christian King of Parker Scott
Christian King of Parker Scott
Coleman King of Taylor Sheets Coleman King of Taylor Sheets
Coleman King of Taylor Sheets
Cook King of Zavala Sheffield Cook King of Zavala Sheffield
Cook King of Zavala Sheffield
Craddick Kleinschmidt Shelton Craddick Kleinschmidt Shelton
Craddick Kleinschmidt Shelton
Creighton Kolkhorst Simpson Creighton Kolkhorst Simpson
Creighton Kolkhorst Simpson
Crownover Kuempel Smith of Harris Crownover Kuempel Smith of Harris
Crownover Kuempel Smith of Harris
Darby Landtroop Smith of Tarrant Darby Landtroop Smith of Tarrant
Darby Landtroop Smith of Tarrant
Davis of Dallas Larson Smithee Davis of Dallas Larson Smithee
Davis of Dallas Larson Smithee
J. Davis of Harris Laubenberg Solomons J. Davis of Harris Laubenberg Solomons
J. Davis of Harris Laubenberg Solomons
S. Davis of Harris Lavender Strama S. Davis of Harris Lavender Strama
S. Davis of Harris Lavender Strama
Deshotel Legler Taylor of Collin Deshotel Legler Taylor of Collin
Deshotel Legler Taylor of Collin
Driver Lewis Taylor of Galveston Driver Lewis Taylor of Galveston
Driver Lewis Taylor of Galveston
Dukes Lozano Thompson Dukes Lozano Thompson
Dukes Lozano Thompson
Dutton Lucio III Torres Dutton Lucio III Torres
Dutton Lucio III Torres
Eiland Lyne Truitt Eiland Lyne Truitt
Eiland Lyne Truitt
Eissler Madden Turner Eissler Madden Turner
Eissler Madden Turner
Elkins Mallory Caraway Veasey Elkins Mallory Caraway Veasey
Elkins Mallory Caraway Veasey
Farias Margo Villarreal Farias Margo Villarreal
Farias Margo Villarreal
Farrar Marquez Vo Farrar Marquez Vo
Farrar Marquez Vo
Fletcher Martinez Walle Fletcher Martinez Walle
Fletcher Martinez Walle
Flynn Martinez Fischer Weber Flynn Martinez Fischer Weber
Flynn Martinez Fischer Weber
Frullo McClendon White Frullo McClendon White
Frullo McClendon White
Garza Menendez Woolley Garza Menendez Woolley
Garza Menendez Woolley
Geren Miles Workman Geren Miles Workman
Geren Miles Workman
Giddings Miller of Comal Zedler Giddings Miller of Comal Zedler
Giddings Miller of Comal Zedler
Gonzales of Hidalgo Miller of Erath Zerwas Gonzales of Hidalgo Miller of Erath Zerwas
Gonzales of Hidalgo Miller of Erath Zerwas
Gonzales of Williamson Morrison Gonzales of Williamson Morrison
Gonzales of Williamson Morrison
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.C.R. No. 15 was unanimously adopted by a rising
vote of the House on June 28, 2011.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.C.R. No. 15 was unanimously adopted by a rising
vote of the Senate on June 28, 2011.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: __________________
Date
__________________
Governor
Straus Gonzalez Munoz, Jr.
Aliseda Gooden Murphy
Allen Guillen Naishtat
Alonzo Gutierrez Nash
Alvarado Hamilton Oliveira
Anchia Hancock Orr
Anderson of Dallas Hardcastle Otto
Anderson of McLennan Harless Parker
Aycock Harper-Brown Patrick
Beck Hartnett Paxton
Berman Hernandez Luna Pena
Bohac Hilderbran Perry
Bonnen Hochberg Phillips
Branch Hopson Pickett
Brown Howard of Fort Bend Pitts
Burkett Howard of Travis Price
Burnam Huberty Quintanilla
Button Hughes Raymond
Cain Hunter Reynolds
Callegari Isaac Riddle
Carter Jackson Ritter
Castro Johnson Rodriguez
Chisum Keffer Schwertner
Christian King of Parker Scott
Coleman King of Taylor Sheets
Cook King of Zavala Sheffield
Craddick Kleinschmidt Shelton
Creighton Kolkhorst Simpson
Crownover Kuempel Smith of Harris
Darby Landtroop Smith of Tarrant
Davis of Dallas Larson Smithee
J. Davis of Harris Laubenberg Solomons
S. Davis of Harris Lavender Strama
Deshotel Legler Taylor of Collin
Driver Lewis Taylor of Galveston
Dukes Lozano Thompson
Dutton Lucio III Torres
Eiland Lyne Truitt
Eissler Madden Turner
Elkins Mallory Caraway Veasey
Farias Margo Villarreal
Farrar Marquez Vo
Fletcher Martinez Walle
Flynn Martinez Fischer Weber
Frullo McClendon White
Garza Menendez Woolley
Geren Miles Workman
Giddings Miller of Comal Zedler
Gonzales of Hidalgo Miller of Erath Zerwas
Gonzales of Williamson Morrison