| 1 | 1 | | 89R25452 KRT-D |
|---|
| 2 | 2 | | By: Muñoz H.R. No. 934 |
|---|
| 3 | 3 | | |
|---|
| 4 | 4 | | |
|---|
| 5 | 5 | | |
|---|
| 6 | 6 | | |
|---|
| 7 | 7 | | R E S O L U T I O N |
|---|
| 8 | 8 | | WHEREAS, A life made rich through meaningful service drew to |
|---|
| 9 | 9 | | a close with the passing of McAllen assistant city manager Joe Vera |
|---|
| 10 | 10 | | III on April 16, 2025, at the age of 69; and |
|---|
| 11 | 11 | | WHEREAS, The son of Joe Vera Jr. and Gloria Vera, Joe Vera was |
|---|
| 12 | 12 | | born in Pharr, where he grew up with the companionship of two |
|---|
| 13 | 13 | | sisters, Joann and Linda; he developed a strong work ethic from an |
|---|
| 14 | 14 | | early age, and his leadership abilities earned him the rank of Eagle |
|---|
| 15 | 15 | | Scout; and |
|---|
| 16 | 16 | | WHEREAS, Mr. Vera enjoyed a long and rewarding career in |
|---|
| 17 | 17 | | public service; as the assistant city manager for the City of |
|---|
| 18 | 18 | | McAllen for nearly 11 years, he spearheaded the creation and |
|---|
| 19 | 19 | | expansion of such landmark events as the award-winning McAllen |
|---|
| 20 | 20 | | Holiday Parade, the South Pole Illuminated Festival, and the |
|---|
| 21 | 21 | | McAllen Marathon; prior to that role, he worked for the City of |
|---|
| 22 | 22 | | Hidalgo, helping to launch Borderfest, overseeing the development |
|---|
| 23 | 23 | | of the Dodge Arena, now known as the Payne Arena, and securing |
|---|
| 24 | 24 | | historic retail and economic initiatives; in addition, he was the |
|---|
| 25 | 25 | | world board chair of the International Festivals & Events |
|---|
| 26 | 26 | | Association, and his accomplishments earned him numerous |
|---|
| 27 | 27 | | accolades, including induction into the IFEA Hall of Fame and the |
|---|
| 28 | 28 | | Texas Festivals & Events Association Hall of Honor; and |
|---|
| 29 | 29 | | WHEREAS, Active in his community, Mr. Vera was involved in |
|---|
| 30 | 30 | | United Way, the Lions Club, and 4-H; a man of faith, he was a |
|---|
| 31 | 31 | | congregant of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Hidalgo for more than |
|---|
| 32 | 32 | | four decades; and |
|---|
| 33 | 33 | | WHEREAS, In all his endeavors, Mr. Vera benefited from the |
|---|
| 34 | 34 | | love and support of his wife, Alma, and he was the proud father of |
|---|
| 35 | 35 | | two children, Trisha and Homer; over the years, their cherished |
|---|
| 36 | 36 | | family grew to include two grandchildren, Ryan and Reena; and |
|---|
| 37 | 37 | | WHEREAS, Joe Vera was a man of great compassion who found joy |
|---|
| 38 | 38 | | and inspiration in helping others, and he leaves behind a legacy of |
|---|
| 39 | 39 | | good works that will long resonate throughout Hidalgo County and |
|---|
| 40 | 40 | | beyond; now, therefore, be it |
|---|
| 41 | 41 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas |
|---|
| 42 | 42 | | Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Joe Vera III and |
|---|
| 43 | 43 | | extend sincere condolences to the members of his family: to his |
|---|
| 44 | 44 | | wife, Alma Vera; to his children, Trisha Garza and Homer Garza and |
|---|
| 45 | 45 | | his wife, Sonya; to his grandchildren, Ryan and Reena; to his |
|---|
| 46 | 46 | | sisters, Joann Watts and her husband, George, and Linda Casas; and |
|---|
| 47 | 47 | | to his many other relatives and friends; and, be it further |
|---|
| 48 | 48 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
|---|
| 49 | 49 | | prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of |
|---|
| 50 | 50 | | Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Joe Vera. |
|---|