H.R. No. 573
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The citizens of Amarillo lost one of their most
esteemed community leaders with the death of Monsignor Joseph Tash
on May 21, 2012, at the age of 77; and
WHEREAS, Born to Edward and Anna Corey Tash on March 2, 1935,
in Barre, Vermont, Joseph Tash graduated from Spaulding High School
and attended St. Michael's College in Colchester, Vermont; he
obtained a degree in philosophy from St. John's Seminary in
Brighton, Massachusetts, and completed additional postgraduate
work in theology at SS. Cyril and Methodius Seminary in Orchard
Lake, Michigan; he was ordained to the priesthood in 1962; and
WHEREAS, Father Tash traveled to Amarillo and served as an
assistant pastor at St. Mary's Church from 1962 to 1967; because of
his Lebanese heritage and familiarity with the unique traditions of
the Maronite Rite, he was called to assist the St. Louis Gonzaga
Maronite Catholic Church in Utica, New York, for a year but returned
to Amarillo in 1968; and
WHEREAS, On his return to the Amarillo diocese, Father Tash
was assigned to serve as chaplain, director of pastoral care, and
director of mission and ministry at St. Anthony's Hospital; in
1980, he became responsible for the hospital's planning and
development; over the course of his 25-year tenure with
St. Anthony's, he co-chaired the medical ethics committee, served
on the administrative council, and acted as director of community
relations; he was also instrumental in both the fund-raising
efforts for the St. Anthony's Foundation and the establishment of
St. Anthony's Hospice; and
WHEREAS, During that same period, Father Tash was involved in
the establishment of St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church and
served as its founding pastor when it opened in 1982; he was named a
Prelate of Honor to His Holiness by Pope John Paul II in 1986 and
thereafter served his congregation as Monsignor Tash; and
WHEREAS, In addition to his service at the church and
hospital, Monsignor Tash was involved in numerous charitable
organizations and local causes; enthusiastic about preaching
against the societal dangers of drug use, he helped organize
Operation Drug Alert and organized Kairos House for rehabilitation;
he served two terms as the campaign chair of the United Way of
Amarillo & Canyon and was a chair of the March of Dimes; he also
served on the boards of the Ronald McDonald House, Catholic Family
Service, the Downtown Women's Center, the Amarillo Kidney
Foundation, the Amarillo Heart Association, and the Amarillo
Symphony; and
WHEREAS, Monsignor Tash enjoyed such pastimes as golf,
bowling, cooking, and needlepoint; he taught his mother's Lebanese
recipes in a class at Amarillo College, and his Christmas
needlework was well known around the parish; and
WHEREAS, A man of generosity, energy, and great faith,
Monsignor Joseph Tash made a positive difference in the lives of
many, and his work will be remembered and admired for years to come;
now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Monsignor Joseph Tash
and extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to his
brothers, Nathan Tash and Francis Tash and his wife, Irene; to his
sister, Barbara Tash Callahan; to his nephews, Michael Callahan,
Patrick Callahan and his wife, Joyce, Edward Tash, and Francis
"Buddy" Tash; to his nieces, Emily Callahan, Donna Tash, and Susan
Tash; and to his friends and congregants; 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 Monsignor
Joseph Tash.
Price
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 573 was unanimously adopted by a
rising vote of the House on March 7, 2013.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House