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| 5 | 6 | | |
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| 6 | 7 | | R E S O L U T I O N |
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| 7 | 8 | | WHEREAS, A life made rich through meaningful service drew to |
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| 8 | 9 | | a close with the passing of Abel Martinez of Lubbock on |
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| 9 | 10 | | September 27, 2024, at the age of 73; and |
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| 10 | 11 | | WHEREAS, The son of Hermilo and Juanita Martinez, "Billy" |
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| 11 | 12 | | Martinez was born in Post on April 19, 1951, and he grew up with the |
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| 12 | 13 | | companionship of three siblings, Hermilo, Emma, and Elizabeth; |
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| 13 | 14 | | following his graduation from Lubbock High School in 1969, he |
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| 14 | 15 | | continued his education at Texas Tech University; and |
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| 15 | 16 | | WHEREAS, Mr. Martinez embarked on a fulfilling career as a |
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| 16 | 17 | | union sheet metal worker that would span many years; he was elected |
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| 17 | 18 | | to serve as representative of the labor union he joined, and he |
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| 18 | 19 | | distinguished himself through his dedicated efforts to recruit |
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| 19 | 20 | | Hispanic workers; an engaged activist who walked picket lines in |
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| 20 | 21 | | various towns across the nation, he was a longtime member of the |
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| 21 | 22 | | League of United Latin American Citizens, a civil rights |
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| 22 | 23 | | organization that fights for full access to the political process |
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| 23 | 24 | | and equal educational opportunity for all Hispanics; and |
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| 24 | 25 | | WHEREAS, In all his endeavors, Mr. Martinez was blessed with |
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| 25 | 26 | | the love and support of his wife, the former Ruth Gutierrez, with |
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| 26 | 27 | | whom he shared more than five decades; he was the devoted father of |
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| 27 | 28 | | three children, Aaron, Jacob, and Angela, and he took great pride in |
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| 28 | 29 | | his four grandchildren; moreover, he adored his nieces and nephews, |
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| 29 | 30 | | and he enjoyed spending time with his friends on the golf course; |
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| 30 | 31 | | and |
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| 31 | 32 | | WHEREAS, Deeply dedicated to his family and his community, |
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| 32 | 33 | | Billy Martinez earned the lasting respect and admiration of all who |
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| 33 | 34 | | were privileged to know him; now, therefore, be it |
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| 34 | 35 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas |
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| 35 | 36 | | Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Abel Martinez and |
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| 36 | 37 | | extend heartfelt condolences to the members of his family: to his |
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| 37 | 38 | | wife, Ruth Martinez; to his children, Aaron Martinez and his wife, |
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| 38 | 39 | | Kathryn, Jacob Martinez, and Angela Martinez and her partner, Jerry |
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| 39 | 40 | | McLaughlin; to his grandchildren, Rogers and Landry Martinez and |
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| 40 | 41 | | Amelia and Violet Jones-Martinez; to his sisters, Emma Smith and |
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| 41 | 42 | | her husband, Fred, and Elizabeth Magallanes and her husband, Rudy; |
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| 42 | 43 | | and to his many other relatives and friends; and, be it further |
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| 43 | 44 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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| 44 | 45 | | prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of |
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| 45 | 46 | | Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Billy |
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| 46 | 47 | | Martinez. |
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