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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Rio Grande Valley residents lost a dedicated |
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champion with the passing of former state representative Sergio |
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Muñoz Sr. on July 30, 2020, at the age of 68; and |
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WHEREAS, The son of Paulino Muñoz Sr. and Celia Cantu Muñoz, |
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Sergio Muñoz was born in Mission on January 20, 1952, and grew up in |
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Los Ebanos with 10 siblings; he worked in the fields at an early |
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age, and as a teenager, he began playing trumpet in such bands as |
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Henry and the Glares and Carlos Guzman y los Jovenes; while touring |
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across the country, he developed his talents as a vocalist, |
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songwriter, and arranger, and he eventually formed his own band, |
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Sergio Muñoz y los Incas; he graduated as valedictorian of La Joya |
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High School and turned down an appointment to West Point in order to |
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continue earning money for his family while completing his |
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bachelor's degree in social work at The University of Texas-Pan |
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American; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Muñoz ran for the school board in La Joya when he |
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was just 18, beginning a life of civic engagement; he served |
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Palmview as city manager and as a municipal judge, and in 1993, he |
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became the first individual to represent the newly created Texas |
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House District 36; over the course of two terms, he served on the |
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transportation, county affairs, and elections committees; he was |
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involved with examining problems with early voting by mail and |
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exercising oversight of the Judicial Campaign Fairness Act, as well |
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as other issues; through the years, he encouraged countless people |
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to seek public office and coordinated and advised campaigns at all |
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levels; he was a tireless coalition-builder, always ready to work |
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across the aisle or set aside past differences for the good of the |
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community; and |
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WHEREAS, After leaving office, Mr. Muñoz continued to |
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advance local interests and was very active in the community; he was |
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a source of wise counsel to many in politics, including his son, |
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State Representative Sergio Muñoz Jr., and he served the Hidalgo |
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County Democratic Party as first vice chair and chair for Precinct |
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78; in addition, he sought to expand voter registration, improve |
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public education, and raise teacher salaries; he held leadership |
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roles in the Knights of Columbus and gave generously of his time and |
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expertise to the Private Industry Council, Lions Club, Tripa Club, |
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and La Joya ISD Educational Excellence Foundation, among other |
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organizations; and |
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WHEREAS, In private life, Mr. Muñoz operated the Muñoz |
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Insurance Agency and also worked in residential and commercial land |
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development; he later entered the health care industry, owning |
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businesses offering home health care services, and he often |
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provided assistance to people who could not afford appropriate |
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care; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Muñoz was devoted to his wife of 44 years, |
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Connie Bazan Muñoz, and he took great pride in their two children, |
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Marla and Sergio, and eight grandchildren, Gael, Carolina, Sofia, |
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Aleksandro, Arianna, Sergio, Caterina, and Maria Elena; in |
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addition, he was very close to his nephews J. J. and Gerardo and |
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niece Selina; he especially loved traveling with his family to |
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Austin for Longhorn football games; most mornings he could be found |
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surrounded by friends as he made his circuit of local restaurants, |
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coffee cup in hand, and he was happy to lend an ear to anyone who |
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needed to talk; and |
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WHEREAS, Although the death of Sergio Muñoz Sr. has brought |
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great sorrow to those he left behind, they will forever treasure |
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their memories of his warmth, kindness, and steadfast commitment to |
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the Rio Grande Valley; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Sergio Muñoz Sr. and |
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extend sincere condolences to all who mourn his passing; 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 the |
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Honorable Sergio Muñoz Sr. |