H.R. No. 524
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Residents of San Marcos lost an admired
restauranteur and civic leader with the passing of Rafael
Gonzales Jr. on January 25, 2025, at the age of 90; and
WHEREAS, The son of Rafael Gonzales Sr. and Virginia Lopez
Gonzales, Ralph Gonzales was born in Martindale on October 30,
1934; he dropped out of school in the seventh grade to help support
his family; on February 17, 1956, he married the former Mary
Juarez; they became the parents of four children, Jerry, Peggy,
Debbie, and Virginia Jeannie, and the family later grew to include
seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren; after the couple
found success selling sausage links out of their home, Mr. Gonzales
opened a small restaurant, Pic-A-Taco, that later grew into a
two-story establishment; a longtime San Marcos favorite, the
business ultimately developed a national reputation, and
Mr. Gonzales was invited to cook for President Jimmy Carter in the
nation's capital in 1980; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Gonzales was renowned for his compassion;
during local floods in the 1970s, he provided free food to victims
and recovery workers, and following a major earthquake in
Guatemala, he organized volunteers to deliver five truckloads of
food and supplies to the country; he also came to the rescue of the
Southside Community Center when it lost key funding; from 1980 to
1990, he served as a Hays County commissioner, and over the years,
he gave generously of his time, talent, and resources to many
organizations, among them the Senior Citizens' Center, the Scheib
Opportunity Center, the Hays County Women's Center, and the
American GI Forum; in 1996, he founded a nonprofit, Nosotros la
Gente, which continues to provide footwear to children in need;
Mr. Gonzales was the recipient of numerous accolades, including the
1976 Citizen of the Year award from the Hays County Citizen; and
WHEREAS, Devoted to his family and his community, Ralph
Gonzales made a meaningful difference in the lives of his loved ones
and fellow citizens alike, and his contributions will be remembered
for years to come; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Rafael Gonzales Jr.
and extend sincere sympathy 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 Ralph
Gonzales.
Zwiener
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 524 was unanimously adopted by a
rising vote of the House on March 31, 2025.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House