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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Ruben Garza retired as executive director of the |
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Southside Community Center in 2022, drawing to a close more than |
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three and a half decades of exemplary service to people in need in |
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San Marcos and Hays County; and |
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WHEREAS, A native of McAllen, Ruben Garza earned his |
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bachelor's degree in political science from Southwest Texas State |
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University, and immediately after graduating, he joined the staff |
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of State Senator Gonzalo Barrientos; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Garza served as executive director of the |
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Southside Community Center, a nonprofit affiliate of the United |
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Methodist Church, for 36 years; the center seeks to improve the |
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living conditions and personal dignity of those in need in Hays |
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County through the delivery of such services as food and |
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transitional housing for those experiencing homelessness, |
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after-school activities for young people, and transportation to |
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local grocery stores; under Mr. Garza's leadership, the center has |
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sponsored summer volunteers from around the country who have worked |
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to improve the homes of residents who are low-income, elderly, or |
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disabled, and more than 800 homes have been upgraded over 25 years; |
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he also oversaw the development of a retirement center and |
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facilitated the creation of affordable senior housing; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Garza served as the first Hispanic president of |
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the San Marcos Consolidated Independent School District and as a |
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founding member of the San Marcos Hispanic Chamber of Commerce; in |
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addition, he has been a member of the Rotary Club, the San Marcos |
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Youth Service Bureau, and the Blanco River Regional Recovery Group, |
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and he is an active congregant of First United Methodist Church; and |
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WHEREAS, Ruben Garza's skill, expertise, and dedication to |
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serving others have greatly benefited the people of San Marcos and |
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Hays County, and he may indeed reflect with pride on a career well |
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spent; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas |
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Legislature hereby congratulate Ruben Garza on his retirement from |
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the Southside Community Center and extend to him sincere best |
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wishes for the future; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Mr. Garza as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives. |