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| 3 | 4 | | |
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| 4 | 5 | | R E S O L U T I O N |
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| 5 | 6 | | WHEREAS, A rich and purposeful life drew to a close on May 16, |
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| 6 | 7 | | 2021, with the passing of Rene Daniel Rodriguez of Corpus Christi at |
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| 7 | 8 | | the age of 68; and |
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| 8 | 9 | | WHEREAS, The son of Idolina and Jose Maria Rodriguez, Rene |
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| 9 | 10 | | Rodriguez was born on January 26, 1953, in Kingsville and grew up |
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| 10 | 11 | | with four siblings, Carlos, Cindy, Sylvia, and Joe; he attended |
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| 11 | 12 | | Carroll High School in Corpus Christi before earning a bachelor's |
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| 12 | 13 | | degree in accounting from Texas A&I University in Kingsville and a |
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| 13 | 14 | | juris doctor degree from the Thurgood Marshall School of Law at |
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| 14 | 15 | | Texas Southern University; and |
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| 15 | 16 | | WHEREAS, Over the course of his 44-year law career, |
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| 16 | 17 | | Mr. Rodriguez distinguished himself as a champion of social justice |
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| 17 | 18 | | and fierce advocate for his clients; he started his career with the |
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| 18 | 19 | | Federal Trade Commission and U.S. Treasury Department before |
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| 19 | 20 | | finding success in private practice as a criminal defense and |
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| 20 | 21 | | personal injury attorney; he went on to serve as a mentor to an |
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| 21 | 22 | | array of diverse and progressive Hispanic candidates vying for a |
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| 22 | 23 | | broad range of local and state elective offices; and |
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| 23 | 24 | | WHEREAS, Mr. Rodriguez's involvement in the community |
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| 24 | 25 | | encompassed a number of other endeavors as well; he founded a youth |
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| 25 | 26 | | martial arts program as well as a charitable foundation, Fighting |
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| 26 | 27 | | to Rid Gangs in America, that supported such vital programs as the |
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| 27 | 28 | | National Hispanic Institute, ChicasRock, the Women's Shelter of |
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| 28 | 29 | | South Texas, Kids in the Kitchen, and various other initiatives; he |
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| 29 | 30 | | also put his legendary barbecue skills to use while preparing meals |
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| 30 | 31 | | for thousands of parishioners at the yearly Journey to Damascus |
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| 31 | 32 | | retreat; and |
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| 32 | 33 | | WHEREAS, Mr. Rodriguez and his wife, Nelda Vidaurri, shared a |
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| 33 | 34 | | loving relationship that spanned 47 years; he took great pride in |
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| 34 | 35 | | their children, Robert and Kate, and with the passing years, he had |
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| 35 | 36 | | the pleasure of seeing his family grow to include a son-in-law, Mike |
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| 36 | 37 | | Treiber, and two cherished grandsons, Patrick and Vincent Treiber; |
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| 37 | 38 | | and |
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| 38 | 39 | | WHEREAS, Rene Rodriguez gave freely of his time and expertise |
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| 39 | 40 | | to better his community, and he leaves behind a record of service |
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| 40 | 41 | | that his friends and loved ones can remember with pride; now, |
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| 41 | 42 | | therefore, be it |
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| 42 | 43 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas |
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| 43 | 44 | | Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Rene Daniel Rodriguez |
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| 44 | 45 | | and extend sincere sympathy to all who mourn his passing; and, be it |
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| 45 | 46 | | further |
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| 46 | 47 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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| 47 | 48 | | prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of |
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| 48 | 49 | | Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Rene |
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| 49 | 50 | | Rodriguez. |
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