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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The citizens of Laredo lost an admired community |
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leader with the death of Javier Garza on August 27, 2023, at the age |
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of 93; and |
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WHEREAS, Javier Garza was born to Felix Garza and Francisca |
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Salinas Garza on February 9, 1930; raised in Laredo, he grew up with |
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the companionship of a brother, Luis; he graduated from |
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St. Augustine High School with the Class of 1947 and later enrolled |
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at the Southern Methodist University Southwestern Graduate School |
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of Banking; and |
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WHEREAS, After high school, Mr. Garza joined Laredo National |
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Bank as a messenger, and he was soon trained in departmental |
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operations; he went on to rise through the ranks and eventually |
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became executive vice president in charge of the international |
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department, where he distinguished himself through his expertise on |
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the banking system in Mexico; though he officially retired after 51 |
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years of service, he continued to act as a trusted consultant to the |
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bank; and |
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WHEREAS, Active in his community, Mr. Garza gave of his time |
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and talents as president of the Laredo Chamber of Commerce and the |
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Logistics and Manufacturing Association, and he served as chair of |
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the board and interim executive director for the Laredo Development |
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Foundation, which later became the Laredo Economic Development |
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Corporation; moreover, he was appointed to the Texas Economic |
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Development and Tourism Office and the board of the Federal Reserve |
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Bank of Dallas; his accomplishments included helping establish the |
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Maquiladora twin plant system in the Laredo area as well as the |
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city's first cold storage facility, and he was instrumental in |
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developing new shipping routes for Mexican coffee that funneled the |
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commodity through Laredo; and |
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WHEREAS, In addition to his professional and civic endeavors, |
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Mr. Garza maintained several ranches in South Texas, where he |
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enjoyed hosting family and impressing guests with his skill in |
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making guisado; he was also an avid and expert deer hunter; and |
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WHEREAS, Above all else, Mr. Garza was devoted to his wife of |
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73 years, Cristina, and their children, Lauro, Adrienne, David, and |
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Roberto; with the passing years, he had the privilege of seeing his |
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family grow to include his nine grandchildren, Evan, Cristina, |
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Lauren, Morgan, Joseph, Laura, Mary, Christopher, and Nicholas, and |
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five great-grandchildren, Kai, Sena, Nino, Roma, and Felix; and |
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WHEREAS, Javier Garza earned the admiration of all who knew |
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him, not only for his success as a business and civic leader but |
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also for his exceptional kindness and generosity, and he leaves |
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behind a legacy that will resonate in the Laredo community for years |
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to come; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the 88th Texas Legislature, 4th |
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Called Session, hereby pay tribute to the life of Javier Garza and |
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extend sincere condolences to his family 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 Senate adjourns this |
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day, it do so in memory of Javier Garza. |