83R5377 LUC-D
By: Nevarez H.R. No. 386
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, With the passing of Arturo C. Gonzalez on December
21, 2012, at the age of 104, the city of Del Rio lost a remarkable
man who made it his life's work to seek equality and justice for
those less fortunate; and
WHEREAS, Arturo Gonzalez was born in Del Rio to Sergio
Gonzalez, Sr., and Genoveva Castro on October 4, 1908; he attended
Guadalupe Catholic School and went on to Del Rio High School, where
he participated in the Wildcats Baseball Club; a chance encounter
with an ad for the American Correspondence School of Law on the back
of a discarded magazine led Mr. Gonzalez to what would become his
professional goal--to ensure that the poor had able legal
representation and protection in the courts; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Gonzalez learned a great deal about the law by
observation, serving as an interpreter for the court of Judge Brian
Montague in the early 1930s; the local Rotary Club loaned Mr.
Gonzalez $300 to travel to Austin and take the state bar exam, and
after receiving his license in February 1935, he set up an office
above Ross Drug Store on Canal Street; and
WHEREAS, While building his practice, Mr. Gonzalez joined the
League of United Latin American Citizens, and he later served as
president of LULAC Council No. 18; in an effort to develop public
housing, he went door-to-door seeking key information from
households, and he became the first executive director of the Del
Rio Housing Authority; along the way, he answered his nation's call
to duty with service in the United States Army during World War II;
and
WHEREAS, In all his endeavors, Mr. Gonzalez enjoyed the love
and support of his wife, Blanca, who predeceased him, as well as
their five children; he was an enthusiastic fan of AAA minor league
baseball franchises and an avid listener of local radio station
XERF; although he rarely ventured too far away from his office, he
took pleasure in trips to Cuba to visit his wife's family; and
WHEREAS, Arturo Gonzalez inspired countless people with his
drive, leadership, and commitment to the greater good, and he will
always be remembered with admiration and affection; now, therefore,
be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Arturo C. Gonzalez and
extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to his
children, Daisy Arledge, Kathy Benson and her husband, Bob, Arthur
Gonzalez and his wife, Becky, Sergio Gonzalez and his wife, Diana,
and Blanca Larson and her husband, Frank; to his grandchildren, Sol
and Yvette Arledge, Diana, Greg, Jim, and Kurt Benson, Eric,
Monica, Rene, and Miguel Gonzalez, America, Daisy, and Sergio
"Nene" Gonzalez, and Adrian and Chelsy Larson; and to his 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 Arturo C.
Gonzalez.