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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, Residents of San Benito lost an admired civic leader |
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| 8 | 9 | | with the passing of José García Gonzalez on July 23, 2024, at the |
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| 9 | 10 | | age of 73; and |
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| 10 | 11 | | WHEREAS, Joe G. Gonzalez was born on September 14, 1950, to |
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| 11 | 12 | | Eliseo Gonzalez and Josefina García, and he grew up with the |
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| 12 | 13 | | companionship of a younger sister, Margot; he went on to serve in |
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| 13 | 14 | | the Texas National Guard and Army Reserve for 12 years, achieving |
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| 14 | 15 | | the rank of sergeant and distinguishing himself as a member of the |
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| 15 | 16 | | Support Company, 3rd Battalion, 141st Infantry Regiment; and |
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| 16 | 17 | | WHEREAS, For three decades, Mr. Gonzalez was employed as a |
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| 17 | 18 | | social worker with the Texas Department of Health and Human |
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| 18 | 19 | | Services; he assisted countless Texans through his service in |
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| 19 | 20 | | programs providing food assistance for those in need and help for |
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| 20 | 21 | | the elderly and people with disabilities; he retired in 2002; and |
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| 21 | 22 | | WHEREAS, Outside of his professional life, Mr. Gonzalez |
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| 22 | 23 | | contributed generously to his community; he took immense pride in |
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| 23 | 24 | | his 16 years as a member of the San Benito Consolidated Independent |
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| 24 | 25 | | School District Board of Trustees, which he served as president, |
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| 25 | 26 | | vice president, secretary, and committee chair; he played an |
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| 26 | 27 | | influential role in guiding the growth and development of the |
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| 27 | 28 | | district, and he was a strong advocate for teachers and staff, as |
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| 28 | 29 | | well as a proponent for sound fiscal management; his commitment to |
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| 29 | 30 | | San Benito students was further demonstrated through his founding |
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| 30 | 31 | | of the Jessica Beth García Memorial Scholarship Fund, which |
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| 31 | 32 | | provides financial aid to deserving San Benito High School track |
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| 32 | 33 | | athletes; and |
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| 33 | 34 | | WHEREAS, In addition to his involvement in San Benito public |
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| 34 | 35 | | schools, Mr. Gonzalez volunteered as a youth football and baseball |
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| 35 | 36 | | coach, as well as the head coach of the "Joe's Misfits" men's |
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| 36 | 37 | | softball team; passionate about music, he found time to perform as |
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| 37 | 38 | | the lead vocalist for the Tejano group La Distancia, with whom he |
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| 38 | 39 | | released several albums; and |
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| 39 | 40 | | WHEREAS, Mr. Gonzalez's greatest joy was spending time with |
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| 40 | 41 | | his family, which included his wife of 50 years, Maria Elena, and |
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| 41 | 42 | | children, José Adrian, Yesenia, Hilario, and Cecilia, as well as |
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| 42 | 43 | | his 18 grandchildren and his great-grandson; and |
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| 43 | 44 | | WHEREAS, Joe Gonzalez was a man who gave freely of his time |
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| 44 | 45 | | and talents in behalf of others, and those who were fortunate enough |
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| 45 | 46 | | to know him will forever treasure their memories of his enthusiasm |
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| 46 | 47 | | for life, his strength of character, and his love of family and |
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| 47 | 48 | | community; now, therefore, be it |
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| 48 | 49 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas |
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| 49 | 50 | | Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of José García |
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| 50 | 51 | | Gonzalez and that deepest sympathy be extended to his loved ones; |
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| 51 | 52 | | and, be it further |
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| 52 | 53 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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| 53 | 54 | | prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of |
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| 54 | 55 | | Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Joe |
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| 55 | 56 | | Gonzalez. |
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