H.R. No. 2708
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Family and friends are mourning the loss of Sam
Bernard Raia Jr. of Sugar Land, who passed away on March 1, 2015, at
the age of 80; and
WHEREAS, The son of Sam Raia Sr. and Mary Francis Raia, Sammy
Raia was born and raised in Houston and grew up with the company of
his brothers, Carl and Russell; he graduated from St. Thomas High
School and earned a bachelor's degree in journalism from the
University of Houston before joining the U.S. Air Force Reserve;
while stationed at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, he was
known to hitchhike home to the Bayou City to enjoy his mother's
homemade pasta and ricotta; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Raia demonstrated an exceptional work ethic
throughout his life; at the age of 13, he got his first job at a
grocery store, and he later installed air conditioners and was
employed by the U.S. Postal Service; after working as a draftsman
at Fish Engineering, he joined the Gaido-Lingle Pipe Coating
Company in 1959, and he rose to the rank of executive vice president
of sales during his notable 42-year career with that business; he
also shared his time and expertise with the National Association of
Pipe Coating Applicators, which he served as president; and
WHEREAS, An engaged citizen and dedicated supporter of the
Fort Bend County Republican Party, Mr. Raia was active in many GOP
precinct, senatorial, and state conventions, and he was excited to
have the opportunity to attend the party's national convention in
1999; in recognition of his contributions, he was named an honorary
life member of the Spirit of Freedom Republican Women's Club; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Raia was a valued parishioner at St. Laurence
Catholic Church; in his leisure time, he enjoyed playing tennis and
golf, and he was a member and a past president of the Sugar Creek
Country Club; and
WHEREAS, Above all else, Mr. Raia was devoted to his loved
ones, including his wife, Terese, his children, Deborah, Sam,
Elizabeth, and Mary, and his grandchildren, Hannah, Regis, Scott,
Andrea, Zachary, Robert, Teresa, Corrine, and Melissa; and
WHEREAS, Sammy Raia lived a rich and purposeful life centered
around his family, his faith, and his community, and he will forever
be remembered with great admiration and affection by all who had the
good fortune to know him; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Sam Bernard Raia Jr.
and extend deepest sympathy to the members of his family: to his
wife, Terese Raia; to his children, Deborah Smith and her husband,
Rix, Sam B. Raia III and his wife, Mary Lynn, Elizabeth Backiel, and
Mary Margaret Giles and her husband, Doug; to his grandchildren,
Hannah Basel, Regis Giles, Scott Nunez, Andrea and Zachary Spruill,
Robert and Teresa Backiel, and Corrine and Melissa Smith; to his
brother, Russell; and to his other relatives and many 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 Sammy Raia.
Miller of Fort Bend
Straus Guillen Naishtat Straus Guillen Naishtat
Straus Guillen Naishtat
Allen Gutierrez Oliveira Allen Gutierrez Oliveira
Allen Gutierrez Oliveira
Alonzo Hernandez Paul Alonzo Hernandez Paul
Alonzo Hernandez Paul
Anchia Herrero Peña Anchia Herrero Peña
Anchia Herrero Peña
Anderson of Dallas Howard Phelan Anderson of Dallas Howard Phelan
Anderson of Dallas Howard Phelan
Anderson of McLennan Huberty Phillips Anderson of McLennan Huberty Phillips
Anderson of McLennan Huberty Phillips
Bell Hughes Pickett Bell Hughes Pickett
Bell Hughes Pickett
Bernal Hunter Raymond Bernal Hunter Raymond
Bernal Hunter Raymond
Blanco Israel Reynolds Blanco Israel Reynolds
Blanco Israel Reynolds
Bohac Johnson Rinaldi Bohac Johnson Rinaldi
Bohac Johnson Rinaldi
Bonnen of Galveston Kacal Rodriguez of Bexar Bonnen of Galveston Kacal Rodriguez of Bexar
Bonnen of Galveston Kacal Rodriguez of Bexar
Burkett Keffer Rodriguez of Travis Burkett Keffer Rodriguez of Travis
Burkett Keffer Rodriguez of Travis
Burns Keough Romero, Jr. Burns Keough Romero, Jr.
Burns Keough Romero, Jr.
Burrows King of Hemphill Rose Burrows King of Hemphill Rose
Burrows King of Hemphill Rose
Button King of Parker Sanford Button King of Parker Sanford
Button King of Parker Sanford
Canales King of Taylor Schaefer Canales King of Taylor Schaefer
Canales King of Taylor Schaefer
Clardy King of Uvalde Schofield Clardy King of Uvalde Schofield
Clardy King of Uvalde Schofield
Coleman Klick Schubert Coleman Klick Schubert
Coleman Klick Schubert
Collier Koop Shaheen Collier Koop Shaheen
Collier Koop Shaheen
Craddick Krause Sheets Craddick Krause Sheets
Craddick Krause Sheets
Crownover Kuempel Simpson Crownover Kuempel Simpson
Crownover Kuempel Simpson
Cyrier Landgraf Smithee Cyrier Landgraf Smithee
Cyrier Landgraf Smithee
Dale Laubenberg Spitzer Dale Laubenberg Spitzer
Dale Laubenberg Spitzer
Davis of Dallas Leach Springer Davis of Dallas Leach Springer
Davis of Dallas Leach Springer
Deshotel Longoria Stephenson Deshotel Longoria Stephenson
Deshotel Longoria Stephenson
Dukes Lozano Stickland Dukes Lozano Stickland
Dukes Lozano Stickland
Dutton Lucio III Thompson of Brazoria Dutton Lucio III Thompson of Brazoria
Dutton Lucio III Thompson of Brazoria
Elkins Márquez Thompson of Harris Elkins Márquez Thompson of Harris
Elkins Márquez Thompson of Harris
Faircloth Martinez Tinderholt Faircloth Martinez Tinderholt
Faircloth Martinez Tinderholt
Fallon Martinez Fischer Turner of Collin Fallon Martinez Fischer Turner of Collin
Fallon Martinez Fischer Turner of Collin
Farias McClendon Turner of Harris Farias McClendon Turner of Harris
Farias McClendon Turner of Harris
Farrar Metcalf VanDeaver Farrar Metcalf VanDeaver
Farrar Metcalf VanDeaver
Fletcher Meyer Villalba Fletcher Meyer Villalba
Fletcher Meyer Villalba
Flynn Miles Vo Flynn Miles Vo
Flynn Miles Vo
Frank Miller of Fort Bend Walle Frank Miller of Fort Bend Walle
Frank Miller of Fort Bend Walle
Frullo Minjarez White of Tyler Frullo Minjarez White of Tyler
Frullo Minjarez White of Tyler
Galindo Moody Wray Galindo Moody Wray
Galindo Moody Wray
Giddings Morrison Wu Giddings Morrison Wu
Giddings Morrison Wu
Gonzales Muñoz, Jr. Zedler Gonzales Muñoz, Jr. Zedler
Gonzales Muñoz, Jr. Zedler
González Murphy Zerwas González Murphy Zerwas
González Murphy Zerwas
Guerra Murr Guerra Murr
Guerra Murr
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 2708 was unanimously adopted by a rising
vote of the House on May 12, 2015.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
Straus Guillen Naishtat
Allen Gutierrez Oliveira
Alonzo Hernandez Paul
Anchia Herrero Peña
Anderson of Dallas Howard Phelan
Anderson of McLennan Huberty Phillips
Bell Hughes Pickett
Bernal Hunter Raymond
Blanco Israel Reynolds
Bohac Johnson Rinaldi
Bonnen of Galveston Kacal Rodriguez of Bexar
Burkett Keffer Rodriguez of Travis
Burns Keough Romero, Jr.
Burrows King of Hemphill Rose
Button King of Parker Sanford
Canales King of Taylor Schaefer
Clardy King of Uvalde Schofield
Coleman Klick Schubert
Collier Koop Shaheen
Craddick Krause Sheets
Crownover Kuempel Simpson
Cyrier Landgraf Smithee
Dale Laubenberg Spitzer
Davis of Dallas Leach Springer
Deshotel Longoria Stephenson
Dukes Lozano Stickland
Dutton Lucio III Thompson of Brazoria
Elkins Márquez Thompson of Harris
Faircloth Martinez Tinderholt
Fallon Martinez Fischer Turner of Collin
Farias McClendon Turner of Harris
Farrar Metcalf VanDeaver
Fletcher Meyer Villalba
Flynn Miles Vo
Frank Miller of Fort Bend Walle
Frullo Minjarez White of Tyler
Galindo Moody Wray
Giddings Morrison Wu
Gonzales Muñoz, Jr. Zedler
González Murphy Zerwas
Guerra Murr