| |
| |
|
|
R E S O L U T I O N
|
|
|
WHEREAS, The passing of Larry Charles Wingert, former |
|
|
publisher of the Monitor newspaper of McAllen, on January 16, 2021, |
|
|
at the age of 83, has brought a profound loss to his loved ones and |
|
|
to the community that he generously served; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Born in Waterloo, Iowa, in 1937, Larry Wingert was |
|
|
the son of Tom and Thelma Wingert and grew up with a brother, |
|
|
Darryl; he moved with his family to McAllen in his youth, and after |
|
|
graduating from McAllen High School, he attended Pan American |
|
|
College and Sul Ross State University; he first began his career in |
|
|
the newspaper industry as a paperboy in 1953, and as he learned the |
|
|
business over four decades, he found employment with the Monitor, |
|
|
the Valley Morning Star, and the Brownsville Herald, as well as with |
|
|
publications in Pampa and Odessa and cities in Ohio and New Mexico; |
|
|
and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Mr. Wingert worked throughout Texas, including |
|
|
several years in the Rio Grande Valley, and he served as publisher |
|
|
of McAllen's the Monitor from 1977 to 1994; he was beloved by his |
|
|
employees, whom he always treated with the utmost respect and |
|
|
appreciation, and his calm, friendly management style helped the |
|
|
staff navigate the many changes that occurred at the paper during |
|
|
his 17-year tenure; under his leadership, the publication enjoyed |
|
|
one of the most successful eras of its history; Mr. Wingert |
|
|
believed in the value of print news not only as a vital source of |
|
|
information, but also as a force for good in the community, and he |
|
|
was known to donate ad space to charities and to utilize the paper |
|
|
in other ways to promote harmony and unity among neighbors; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, A dedicated volunteer and a supporter of numerous |
|
|
local organizations and causes, Mr. Wingert was involved with the |
|
|
McAllen Chamber of Commerce, the Jaycees, the Elks, Easter Seals, |
|
|
the Rotary Club, and both the Boy and Girl Scouts; moreover, he was |
|
|
a devout Catholic who attended mass daily, and he also found time to |
|
|
visit hospice patients and to deliver meals to homebound seniors; |
|
|
and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Mr. Wingert shared nearly 65 years of marriage with |
|
|
the love of his life, Margaret; he was the devoted father of three |
|
|
children, Stephan, Ashley, and Stephanie, and he was proud to see |
|
|
his son follow in his footsteps to become the Monitor's current |
|
|
publisher; his cherished family further included three |
|
|
grandchildren, Kathryn, Jackson, and Amber; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Larry Wingert will be remembered with great |
|
|
admiration for his professional achievements and for the myriad |
|
|
ways he gave of himself to benefit others, and he will be deeply |
|
|
missed by all who were privileged to know him; now, therefore, be it |
|
|
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas |
|
|
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Larry Charles Wingert |
|
|
and extend sincere sympathy to his relatives and 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 Larry |
|
|
Charles Wingert. |