Texas 2023 - 88th Regular

Texas Senate Bill SR602 Compare Versions

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1	1	SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 602
2	2	In Memory
3	3	of
4	4	Fortunato Benavides
5	5	WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas honors and
6	6	commemorates the life of Fortunato "Pete" Benavides, who died on
7	7	May 5, 2023, at the age of 76; and
8	8	WHEREAS, Born on February 3, 1947, in Mission, Pete
9	9	Benavides was raised in McAllen and traced his roots back to
10	10	Spanish statesmen who settled prominent cities in Nuevo León
11	11	and Tamaulipas; renowned for his athleticism and exceptional
12	12	memory, Pete graduated from McAllen Senior High School in 1965
13	13	and went on to earn his business degree from the University of
14	14	Houston and his law degree from the University of Houston Law
15	15	Center in 1972; and
16	16	WHEREAS, Shortly after beginning his career as a litigator
17	17	in McAllen, Pete secured a judicial appointment and served as
18	18	Hidalgo County Court judge for two years; he returned to private
19	19	practice until his election as Hidalgo County 92nd District Court
20	20	judge in 1981, a position he held until 1984, when Texas Governor
21	21	Mark White appointed him as a justice on the Thirteenth Court of
22	22	Appeals, a position he held for seven years; and
23	23	WHEREAS, Determined to do more for his community, Judge
24	24	Benavides, through his membership on the Texas Juvenile
25	25	Probation Commission, established the Ramiro H. Guerra Youth
26	26	Village, a residential facility in Weslaco for male juvenile
27	27	offenders; his spirit of generosity captured the attention of
28	28	such leaders as Bill Clinton, who praised Judge Benavides for his
29	29	outstanding work with the center for troubled youth; and
30	30	WHEREAS, Judge Benavides was appointed by Governor Ann
31	31	Richards to the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals in 1991 and by
32	32	Chief Justice of the Texas Supreme Court Tom Phillips to serve
33	33	numerous state courts by special appointment; in between
34	34	appointments, Judge Benavides resumed private practice as a
35	35	partner at the McAllen law firm Atlas and Hall; and
36	36	WHEREAS, President Clinton appointed Judge Benavides to
37	37	serve as a justice on the United States Fifth Circuit Court of
38	38	Appeals in 1994; he served the court with distinction as an
39	39	active judge for 18 years and completed numerous terms as a
40	40	member of the Judicial Council of the Fifth Circuit; he assumed
41	41	senior status in the Fifth Circuit in 2012; and
42	42	WHEREAS, Highly esteemed by his colleagues and
43	43	contemporaries for his humility and compassion, Judge Benavides
44	44	authored more than 2,000 opinions in his 25 years on the Fifth
45	45	Circuit, and his honest counsel brought wisdom and enlightenment
46	46	to his fellow justices; and many friends who regard his life as a
47	47	gold standard to which future generations of Texans may aspire;
48	48	he was preceded in death by his infant son Ramon, and leaves
49	49	behind precious memories that will be forever treasured by his
50	50	beloved wife, Evelyn, his daughters, Amanda and Adelaide, and his
51	51	grandsons, Milo and Carter; now, therefore, be it
52	52	RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 88th
53	53	Legislature, hereby extend sincere condolences to the bereaved
54	54	family of Pete Benavides; and, be it further
55	55	RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for
56	56	his family as an expression of deepest sympathy from the Texas
57	57	Senate and that when the Senate adjourns this day, it do so in
58	58	memory of Pete Benavides.
59	59	Hinojosa
60	60	________________________________
61	61	President of the Senate
62	62	I hereby certify that the
63	63	above Resolution was adopted by
64	64	the Senate on May 16, 2023, by a
65	65	rising vote.
66	66	________________________________
67	67	Secretary of the Senate
68	68	________________________________
69	69	Member, Texas Senate