H.R. No. 2542
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The 92nd birthday of an esteemed Texan is truly
cause for celebration, and Dr. Joseph Ernest Torres of El Paso
reached that impressive milestone on April 11, 2015; and
WHEREAS, Born in El Paso in 1923, Dr. Torres graduated from
El Paso High School in 1941 and attended the Texas College of Mines
and Metallurgy before going to work as a recruiting agent with
Southern Pacific Railroad and as a trainee marine machinist in
Oakland, California; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Torres answered his nation's call to duty during
World War II and served as an infantryman in the United States Army
and as a B-17 bombardier and navigator in the U.S. Army Air Forces;
he flew 13 combat missions over Germany, and after the war, he
served in the reserves at the rank of lieutenant until 1947; and
WHEREAS, Following his military service, Dr. Torres resumed
his education at the College of Mines and Metallurgy, receiving his
bachelor's degree in 1948, and he went on to earn his dental degree
at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska, in 1952; in the late
1950s, he returned to the Air Force Dental Reserves, attaining the
rank of colonel; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Torres has been in private practice as a dental
surgeon in El Paso for many years, and he continues to work today; a
leader in his profession, he has served as chair of the El Paso
District Dental Society and the West Texas Dental Society and as an
advisor to the El Paso Community College Dental Assistants Training
program; and
WHEREAS, This caring and energetic gentleman has also devoted
much of his time and energy to giving back to his community, serving
on the board of St. Margaret's Children's Home and as a member of
the Knights of Columbus and the Kiwanis Club; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Torres has remained proud of his military
service, and he is an honorary member of the 82nd Airborne
Association, which presented him with a Certificate of Appreciation
for Meritorious and Exemplary Performance in Support of
International Freedom and Peace; a cofounder of the Legacy of Valor
organization and a leader in the effort to create a Vietnam Veterans
memorial in El Paso, he has also served as vice commander of the
Paso del Norte chapter of the American GI Forum; and
WHEREAS, For more than nine decades, Dr. Joseph Torres has
lived an exemplary life dedicated to the service of his nation and
his community, and he is a source of inspiration and wisdom to all
those who are privileged to know him; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas
Legislature hereby congratulate Dr. Joseph Ernest Torres on his
92nd birthday and extend to him sincere best wishes for continued
success and happiness; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Dr. Torres as an expression of high regard by the Texas
House of Representatives.
Blanco
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 2542 was adopted by the House on May
21, 2015, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House