H.R. No. 2536
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Family and friends will forever treasure their
memories of Leonel R. Garza of Freer, who died on July 16, 2022, at
the age of 82; and
WHEREAS, Born on July 4, 1940, to Lazaro and Olivia Garza,
Leonel Garza grew up with 12 siblings, Maria, Ofelia, Carmen,
Lupita, Hane, Rosa, Liz, Gloria, Mandy, Eloy, Larry, and Gilbert;
in his youth, he did migrant work in Texas and the Midwest, and he
was a star athlete at Benavides High School, where he graduated in
1959; answering his nation's call to duty, he enlisted in the
U.S. Marine Corps and served until his honorable discharge in 1968
at the rank of corporal; he married the former Elda Garcia in 1961,
and they became the proud parents of five daughters, Leticia, Nori,
Noelia, Elsa, and Imelda; later in life, he was blessed with 12
grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren; and
WHEREAS, In the 1960s, Mr. Garza and his family settled in
Freer, where he became the manager of the Center Circle Texaco
station and went on to found the Muy Grande store; in 1976, he began
a career selling ranches and serving as a ranch consultant that
spanned half a century; he was also active as a member of the school
board, the sportsman's club, the chamber of commerce, and the Lions
Club, as well as the Duval County Groundwater Conservation
District; and
WHEREAS, A celebrated outdoorsman, Mr. Garza founded the Muy
Grande Deer Contest in 1965, one of the largest such contests in the
world; he wrote and created many books and videos about the
competition, and he designed the Muy Grande camouflage pattern; as
a hunter, he personally collected more than 20,000 heads of
whitetail deer; his many honors include awards from the City of
Freer and the Texas Senate and House of Representatives, as well as
the Gene Riser Award from the Texas Deer Association; and
WHEREAS, Leonel Garza lived a rich and purposeful life, and
he leaves behind a legacy that will continue to inspire all those
who knew and loved him; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Leonel R. Garza and
extend sincere condolences to the members of his family and to his
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 Leonel
Garza.
Guillen
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 2536 was unanimously adopted by a
rising vote of the House on May 29, 2023.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House