H.R. No. 1830
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Residents of Bee County lost a dedicated public
servant with the passing of the Honorable David T. Silva on March
16, 2015, at the age of 70; and
WHEREAS, David Silva was born in Beeville on May 26, 1944, to
Marcos and Altagracia Silva; a 1963 graduate of A. C. Jones High
School, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, and he worked his way
through college while earning an associate's degree from Bee County
College as well as bachelor's and master's degrees from Texas
A&M--Corpus Christi after completing his military service; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Silva joined the faculty at Bee County College
in 1976 when he was hired as coordinator of the Talent Search
Program, and over the course of his notable tenure, he was selected
on numerous occasions as Teacher of the Year, and he served as chair
of the social science division and as cosponsor of the Phi Theta
Kappa honors fraternity; he retired from the school in 2003, though
he later returned to work as an adjunct instructor; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Silva began a new chapter in his life when he was
appointed as a municipal court judge in 2004, and voters elected him
to serve as Bee County judge in 2007; he was reelected to lead
county government in 2010 and 2014, becoming the first individual
to serve three terms in that post in the county's history; during
his time on the commissioners court, he earned the respect and
admiration of all who knew him for his efforts in behalf of the
people of Bee County; and
WHEREAS, This accomplished Texan further shared his insight
as a valued member of such organizations as the Coastal Bend Council
of Government, Bee Development Authority, Bee County Juvenile
Board, Local Emergency Planning Committee, and the Bee County
Historical Commission, among others; and
WHEREAS, A man of strong religious beliefs, Mr. Silva studied
at the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and shared his
time and talents as a deacon, youth minister, and senior pastor for
a number of churches in the area; he was ordained into the ministry
in 2002, and he led the congregation at First Baptist Church in
Pettus for several years until his death; and
WHEREAS, Judge Silva shared more than four decades of
marriage with his wife, Yolanda, and he took great pride in the
couple's two daughters, Cassandra and Cristianna; with the passage
of time, he also had the pleasure of seeing his family grow to
include a beloved granddaughter, Audria; and
WHEREAS, Devoted to his family, his faith, and his fellow
citizens, David Silva made a meaningful difference in the lives of
others, and although he is deeply missed, he will long be fondly
remembered in the community he so ably served; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of the Honorable David
T. Silva and extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family:
to his wife of 44 years, Yolanda Silva; to his daughters and their
spouses, Cassandra Silva and her husband, Casey Hawkins, and
Cristianna Meineke and her husband, Aaron; to his granddaughter,
Audria Silva; to his siblings, John Silva, Amado Silva and his wife,
Zenaida, and Grace Ramirez and her husband, Adolfo; and to his many
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 Judge David
T. Silva.
Lozano
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 1830 was unanimously adopted by a
rising vote of the House on May 7, 2015.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House