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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, Dr. Ben Leonel Garza, an esteemed member of the |
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| 6 | 7 | | Edinburg community and a dear friend to many, passed away on |
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| 7 | 8 | | February 5, 2021, at the age of 82; and |
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| 8 | 9 | | WHEREAS, Born in Mercedes on January 17, 1939, to Leoncio and |
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| 9 | 10 | | Nellie Chapa Garza, Ben Garza grew up with nine brothers and |
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| 10 | 11 | | sisters; after graduating from The University of Texas College of |
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| 11 | 12 | | Pharmacy in 1961, he managed his family's drug store in McAllen and |
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| 12 | 13 | | subsequently went on to attend medical school at the UT Medical |
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| 13 | 14 | | Branch at Galveston; during his 45-year career as a physician, he |
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| 14 | 15 | | practiced at the Edinburg Regional Medical Center alongside four of |
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| 15 | 16 | | his brothers; and |
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| 16 | 17 | | WHEREAS, An avid sports fan, Dr. Garza was the longtime |
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| 17 | 18 | | doctor for athletic teams at UT-Pan American and the Edinburg |
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| 18 | 19 | | school district; he was recognized on many occasions for his |
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| 19 | 20 | | outstanding work with these programs, receiving such accolades as |
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| 20 | 21 | | the Rio Grande Valley Sports Hall of Fame Distinguished Service |
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| 21 | 22 | | Award in 2009, induction into the UTPA Athletics Hall of Honor in |
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| 22 | 23 | | 2010, and the UTPA Broncs Leadership Award in 2015; and |
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| 23 | 24 | | WHEREAS, In addition to serving as an Edinburg school board |
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| 24 | 25 | | trustee, Dr. Garza held prominent leadership roles in the Texas |
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| 25 | 26 | | Jaycees, the American Cancer Society, and American Humanics, and he |
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| 26 | 27 | | was a Hidalgo County health officer and a member of the Edinburg |
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| 27 | 28 | | Urban Renewal Board; he also had the distinction of serving on the |
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| 28 | 29 | | Governor's Advisory Board for Juvenile Justice and Crime |
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| 29 | 30 | | Prevention, as well as the State Bar of Texas Commission for Lawyer |
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| 30 | 31 | | Discipline; moreover, he was a retired 20-year veteran of the Texas |
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| 31 | 32 | | National Guard, and he volunteered his time in various capacities |
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| 32 | 33 | | with the Boy Scouts of America; the honors he received for his |
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| 33 | 34 | | service included the American Heart Association Heart of Gold Award |
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| 34 | 35 | | in 2000 and the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce General Physician of |
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| 35 | 36 | | the Year Award in 2008; and |
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| 36 | 37 | | WHEREAS, In all his endeavors, Dr. Garza enjoyed the love and |
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| 37 | 38 | | support of his wife of 32 years, Patty Garza; he was the proud |
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| 38 | 39 | | father of seven children, Loretta, Veronica, Brooke, Brennan, Ben, |
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| 39 | 40 | | Steven, and Cesar, and he was further blessed with eight |
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| 40 | 41 | | grandchildren, Tucker, Olivia, Lauren, Hailey, Lily, Leslie, Gabi, |
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| 41 | 42 | | and Ava; and |
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| 42 | 43 | | WHEREAS, Dr. Ben Garza lived a life that was extraordinarily |
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| 43 | 44 | | rich in personal and professional accomplishments, and those who |
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| 44 | 45 | | knew and loved him will forever find inspiration in his admirable |
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| 45 | 46 | | legacy; now, therefore, be it |
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| 46 | 47 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas |
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| 47 | 48 | | Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Dr. Ben Leonel |
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| 48 | 49 | | Garza and extend deepest sympathy to all those who mourn his |
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| 49 | 50 | | passing; and, be it further |
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| 50 | 51 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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| 51 | 52 | | prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of |
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| 52 | 53 | | Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Dr. Ben |
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| 53 | 54 | | Garza. |
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