82S11240 MGR-D
By: Munoz, Jr. H.R. No. 215
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, A community gymnasium in Pharr is being renamed in
2011 for hometown musician and leading citizen Cali Carranza; and
WHEREAS, Born in Pharr in 1953 to Magdaleno and Adela
Carranza, Cali Carranza was one of six children; he worked as a
migrant farmworker in Michigan and Indiana during the 1960s and
attended Pharr-San Juan-Alamo High School, where he was an honor
student and a national mathematics award winner; after graduating
in 1971, he served in the United States Army, and he later worked as
an Army Reserve recruiter, winning many awards for his efforts; in
addition, he studied at The University of Texas-Pan American; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Carranza showed a natural talent for music at an
early age, learning to play the drums and accordion when he was
eight years old and joining his father's conjunto band for
performances; he ultimately became proficient on more than 20
instruments, teaching himself by ear, and he has written and
arranged hundreds of songs; he played the accordion and sang with
Conjunto Bernal and Roberto Pulido y Los Classicos, and in 1976 he
started his own band, Los Formales; and
WHEREAS, This skilled musician has recorded more than 20
albums and performed for thousands of fans throughout the United
States and Mexico; his work has been recognized with numerous
awards, including the Pharr Musical Heritage Award in 2008 and a
lifetime achievement award from the Tejano Music Awards in 2010,
and he has been inducted into the Tejano Music Hall of Fame; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Carranza has shared his time and talents in his
community in a number of ways; he was appointed to a United States
Selective Service board by President George H. W. Bush and held that
post for more than two decades, and he served for four years on the
City of Pharr Bridge Board, which was focused on the construction of
the Pharr-Reynosa International Bridge; he has further
distinguished himself by serving as chair of the Pharr Housing
Authority board for four terms and by directing the choir at
St. Anne's Catholic Church for nearly 20 years; and
WHEREAS, In all of his endeavors, Mr. Carranza enjoys the
love and support of his wife of 35 years, Maria, and he takes pride
in a fine family that includes two daughters, Marissa and Claire,
and six grandchildren, Cali Michael, Matthew, Elijah, Ethan, Ava,
and Ella; and
WHEREAS, Cali Carranza has delighted music lovers and has
worked in behalf of the citizens of his hometown for many years, and
it is indeed fitting that his contributions to Pharr be recognized
with this prestigious honor; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas
Legislature, 1st Called Session, hereby commemorate the dedication
of the Cali Carranza community gymnasium in Pharr and honor
Mr. Carranza for his achievements and service; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Mr. Carranza as an expression of high regard by the
Texas House of Representatives.