87R1379 BPG-D
 
  By: Canales H.R. No. 374
 
 
 
R E S O L U T I O N
         WHEREAS, Rio Grande Valley residents lost a dedicated
  champion with the passing of former state representative Sergio
  Muñoz Sr. on July 30, 2020, at the age of 68; and
         WHEREAS, The son of Paulino Muñoz Sr. and Celia Cantu Muñoz,
  Sergio Muñoz was born in Mission on January 20, 1952, and grew up in
  Los Ebanos with 10 siblings; he worked in the fields at an early
  age, and as a teenager, he began playing trumpet in such bands as
  Henry and the Glares and Carlos Guzman y los Jovenes; while touring
  across the country, he developed his talents as a vocalist,
  songwriter, and arranger, and he eventually formed his own band,
  Sergio Muñoz y los Incas; he graduated as valedictorian of La Joya
  High School and turned down an appointment to West Point in order to
  continue earning money for his family while completing his
  bachelor's degree in social work at The University of Texas-Pan
  American; and
         WHEREAS, Mr. Muñoz ran for the school board in La Joya when he
  was just 18, beginning a life of civic engagement; he served
  Palmview as city manager and as a municipal judge, and in 1993, he
  became the first individual to represent the newly created Texas
  House District 36; over the course of two terms, he served on the
  transportation, county affairs, and elections committees; he was
  involved with examining problems with early voting by mail and
  exercising oversight of the Judicial Campaign Fairness Act, as well
  as other issues; through the years, he encouraged countless people
  to seek public office and coordinated and advised campaigns at all
  levels; he was a tireless coalition-builder, always ready to work
  across the aisle or set aside past differences for the good of the
  community; and
         WHEREAS, After leaving office, Mr. Muñoz continued to
  advance local interests and was very active in the community; he was
  a source of wise counsel to many in politics, including his son,
  State Representative Sergio Muñoz Jr., and he served the Hidalgo
  County Democratic Party as first vice chair and chair for Precinct
  78; in addition, he sought to expand voter registration, improve
  public education, and raise teacher salaries; he held leadership
  roles in the Knights of Columbus and gave generously of his time and
  expertise to the Private Industry Council, Lions Club, Tripa Club,
  and La Joya ISD Educational Excellence Foundation, among other
  organizations; and
         WHEREAS, In private life, Mr. Muñoz operated the Muñoz
  Insurance Agency and also worked in residential and commercial land
  development; he later entered the health care industry, owning
  businesses offering home health care services, and he often
  provided assistance to people who could not afford appropriate
  care; and
         WHEREAS, Mr. Muñoz was devoted to his wife of 44 years,
  Connie Bazan Muñoz, and he took great pride in their two children,
  Marla and Sergio, and eight grandchildren, Gael, Carolina, Sofia,
  Aleksandro, Arianna, Sergio, Caterina, and Maria Elena; in
  addition, he was very close to his nephews J. J. and Gerardo and
  niece Selina; he especially loved traveling with his family to
  Austin for Longhorn football games; most mornings he could be found
  surrounded by friends as he made his circuit of local restaurants,
  coffee cup in hand, and he was happy to lend an ear to anyone who
  needed to talk; and
         WHEREAS, Although the death of Sergio Muñoz Sr. has brought
  great sorrow to those he left behind, they will forever treasure
  their memories of his warmth, kindness, and steadfast commitment to
  the Rio Grande Valley; now, therefore, be it
         RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas
  Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Sergio Muñoz Sr. and
  extend sincere condolences to all who mourn his passing; 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 the
  Honorable Sergio Muñoz Sr.