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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, A full and generous life drew to a close with the |
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passing of Joel A. Garza of Weslaco on June 21, 2021, at the age of |
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84; and |
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WHEREAS, Born in Weslaco on April 18, 1937, Joe Garza was the |
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son of Victor and Josefa Martinez Garza, and he grew up with the |
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companionship of four siblings, Humberto, Maria, Nora, and Victor; |
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in 1956, he graduated from Weslaco High School, where he played |
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running back and helped the Panther football team advance to the |
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state semifinals in 1955; he later attended St. Mary's University |
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while serving with the Texas National Guard; and |
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WHEREAS, Following his honorable discharge in 1962, |
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Mr. Garza began his career in social work with the Texas Department |
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of Public Welfare; he served as an administrator for government |
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assistance programs and retired in 1990 as a program director with |
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the Texas Department of Human Services; dedicated to his community, |
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he gave generously of his time and talents to numerous |
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organizations, including the Knights of Columbus, the Boy Scouts of |
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America, the American Cancer Society, and Valley Interfaith; in |
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addition, he was active in city politics and was instrumental in |
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Weslaco adopting single-member districts; he was also passionate |
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about agriculture, and he farmed various crops in the United States |
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and Mexico, growing all of his produce organically; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Garza married the former Maria Evangelina |
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Hinojosa in September 1961, and the couple shared a rewarding union |
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that spanned nearly six decades; he was the proud father of six |
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children, Cynthia, Melinda, Jaime, Judith, Angela, and Joel, and |
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over the years, he was further blessed with 17 grandchildren; and |
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WHEREAS, Joe Garza possessed a generosity of spirit that |
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expressed itself in myriad ways, and he enriched the lives of |
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countless people with his warmth and kindness; now, therefore, be |
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it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas |
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Legislature, 1st Called Session, hereby pay tribute to the memory |
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of Joel A. Garza and extend sincere sympathy to the members of his |
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family: to his wife, Evangelina Garza; to his children, Cynthia |
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Cardenas and her husband, Gilbert, Melinda Garza and her husband, |
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Bernie, Jaime Garza and his wife, Terri, Judith Blas and her |
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husband, Jesse, Angela Cantu and her husband, Robert, and Joel |
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Garza and his wife, Lindsey; to his brother, Victor Garza and his |
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wife, Elva; to his brother-in-law, Claudio Perez; to his |
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grandchildren; and to his other relatives and friends; and, be it |
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further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of |
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Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Joe Garza. |