H.R. No. 665 R E S O L U T I O N WHEREAS, A life made rich through meaningful service drew to a close with the passing of U.S. Army Colonel (Ret.) Manuel Lopez on August 3, 2022, at the age of 84; and WHEREAS, The son of Rufino and Elvira Lopez, Manuel Lopez was born in San Diego, Texas, on January 1, 1938, and he was a member of the Class of 1956 at the Texas Military Institute; after attending Texas A&M University, he earned a political science degree from Park University; he also graduated from the Command and General Staff College and was a faculty member there; and WHEREAS, In 1957, Mr. Lopez enlisted in the U.S. Army, first serving as a sergeant with the 69th Armor Regiment in Germany before commanding a missile battery at Fort Carson; next, he commanded the Headquarters Battery of the 2nd Target Acquisition Battalion in Korea and served with the 82nd Airborne Division and the XVIII Airborne Corps Operations Staff at Fort Bragg; and WHEREAS, Mr. Lopez deployed to Vietnam in 1966 as an airborne division battalion commander; subsequently, he rejoined the XVIII Airborne Corps and was named airborne advisor for the Argentine Army; in the 1970s, he went back to Korea as a fire support coordinator, and in Texas, he became executive officer for the 2nd Armored Division Artillery; he was later named chief of staff of the Division Forward in Germany and then chief of the Military Assistance Group in Argentina; his final active duty assignment was with the Arkansas National Guard; he concluded his distinguished 30-year career at the rank of colonel; his awards included the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, and the Air Medal; after retiring from the military, he worked as a corporate marketing manager for the Hallmark Electronics Firm; and WHEREAS, Mr. Lopez shared a rewarding marriage with his wife, the late Maria Rosario Lopez, and he took great pride in his 5 children, Camilla, Corina, Alma, Manuel, and Ana, as well as his 16 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren; and WHEREAS, Manuel Lopez earned the lasting respect and admiration of all who were privileged to know him, and he leaves behind a legacy that his loved ones can remember with pride; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of U.S. Army Colonel (Ret.) Manuel Lopez and extend heartfelt sympathy to his relatives and 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 Manuel Lopez. Lozano ______________________________ Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 665 was unanimously adopted by a rising vote of the House on March 30, 2023. ______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House