84R13489 RMA-D
By: Canales H.R. No. 1264
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The tenure of an esteemed public official will draw
to a close when the Honorable Leopoldo Palacios Jr. concludes his
service as the mayor of Pharr in May 2015; and
WHEREAS, A native of Pharr, "Polo" Palacios graduated from
Pharr-San Juan-Alamo High School in 1952 and subsequently served
this state and nation for four years as a member of the United
States Air Force; he later attended Texas A&I University and went on
to graduate with a degree in social work from The University of
Texas--Pan American; and
WHEREAS, After being employed in insurance sales for many
years, Mr. Palacios started working in the financial industry, and
in 1965, he established a loan company in McAllen; in 1981, he once
again changed career paths to become a drug and alcohol abuse
counselor, and he went on to found Palacios Alcohol Drug Education
and Counseling Services, where he has positively impacted countless
lives through the decades; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Palacios entered politics in 1985 with his
appointment as city commissioner, and he was subsequently returned
to that office time and again by local voters; over the course of
his 17-year tenure in that post, he ably served his constituency,
and he recalls as one of his proudest achievements providing more
than 20,000 new residents with clean water, sewerage services,
streets, and electricity after the annexation of the Las Milpas
area by the city; and
WHEREAS, In 2002, Mr. Palacios was elected mayor of Pharr,
and under his guidance, the city has received a host of accolades
for its dedication to historic preservation, economic development,
and civic excellence; it was designated as both a Preserve America
Community and a Texas Main Street City in 2004, and it received a
2006 All-America City Award from the National Civic League;
moreover, Mayor Palacios was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Honor
in 2009 by the Pharr Chamber of Commerce in recognition of his
outstanding contributions to his community; and
WHEREAS, In addition to his mayoral duties, Polo Palacios has
served as a member of the Pharr-Reynosa International Bridge Board,
the Hidalgo County Metropolitan Planning Organization, the Lower
Rio Grande Valley Development Council, American Legion Post
No. 101, the United States Conference of Mayors, and Disabled
American Veterans; at the statewide level, he was appointed to the
Texas Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner by Governor Mark White
and, at the national level, to the Military Academy Selection
Committee by U.S. Senator John Cornyn; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Palacios is blessed in all his endeavors by the
love and support of his wife, the former Maria Guadalupe Ramos, with
whom he has shared a rewarding union of nearly six decades; he also
takes tremendous pride in his treasured family that includes 6
children, 18 grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren; buoyed by a
strong faith as well, he and his wife are valued, longtime
congregants of St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church, where he serves
as a Eucharistic minister; and
WHEREAS, Greatly respected for his commitment to his fellow
citizens, Polo Palacios has devoted three decades of his life to
public service, and his myriad efforts in behalf of the city of
Pharr will be remembered and admired for years to come; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas
Legislature hereby commend the Honorable Leopoldo "Polo" Palacios
Jr. for his service as mayor of Pharr and extend to him sincere best
wishes for continued success and fulfillment; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Mayor Palacios as an expression of high regard by the
Texas House of Representatives.