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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, A life made rich through meaningful service drew to |
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a close with the passing of U.S. Army Colonel (Ret.) Manuel Lopez on |
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August 3, 2022, at the age of 84; and |
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WHEREAS, The son of Rufino and Elvira Lopez, Manuel Lopez was |
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born in San Diego, Texas, on January 1, 1938, and he was a member of |
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the Class of 1956 at the Texas Military Institute; after attending |
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Texas A&M University, he earned a political science degree from |
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Park University; he also graduated from the Command and General |
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Staff College and was a faculty member there; and |
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WHEREAS, In 1957, Mr. Lopez enlisted in the U.S. Army, first |
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serving as a sergeant with the 69th Armor Regiment in Germany before |
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commanding a missile battery at Fort Carson; next, he commanded the |
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Headquarters Battery of the 2nd Target Acquisition Battalion in |
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Korea and served with the 82nd Airborne Division and the XVIII |
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Airborne Corps Operations Staff at Fort Bragg; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Lopez deployed to Vietnam in 1966 as an |
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airborne division battalion commander; subsequently, he rejoined |
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the XVIII Airborne Corps and was named airborne advisor for the |
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Argentine Army; in the 1970s, he went back to Korea as a fire |
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support coordinator, and in Texas, he became executive officer for |
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the 2nd Armored Division Artillery; he was later named chief of |
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staff of the Division Forward in Germany and then chief of the |
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Military Assistance Group in Argentina; his final active duty |
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assignment was with the Arkansas National Guard; he concluded his |
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distinguished 30-year career at the rank of colonel; his awards |
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included the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star, the Meritorious |
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Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, and the Air Medal; |
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after retiring from the military, he worked as a corporate |
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marketing manager for the Hallmark Electronics Firm; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Lopez shared a rewarding marriage with his wife, |
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the late Maria Rosario Lopez, and he took great pride in his 5 |
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children, Camilla, Corina, Alma, Manuel, and Ana, as well as his 16 |
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grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren; and |
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WHEREAS, Manuel Lopez earned the lasting respect and |
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admiration of all who were privileged to know him, and he leaves |
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behind a legacy that his loved ones can remember with pride; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of U.S. Army Colonel |
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(Ret.) Manuel Lopez and extend heartfelt sympathy to his relatives |
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and friends; and, be it 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 Manuel |
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Lopez. |