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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Houston restaurateur Johnny Carrabba III has been |
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presented with the 2023 Buck N' Ball Award by the Bryan Museum in |
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Galveston; and |
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WHEREAS, Celebrating the contributions made by Italian |
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Americans to the history of the Lone Star State, this accolade |
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recognizes individuals with roots in the American West who have |
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demonstrated exceptional resolve in the course of distinguished |
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careers; and |
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WHEREAS, Johnny Carrabba is descended from Italian |
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immigrants, his maternal and paternal great-grandparents, who left |
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impoverished Sicily in the 1800s and traveled to the U.S. via cargo |
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ship; they settled in the Galveston area, and he was born in |
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Houston, where his parents, Rosie Carrabba and John Carrabba Jr., |
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owned a grocery store in the East End neighborhood; he spent much of |
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his youth in Carrabba's Friendly Grocery and attended St. Thomas |
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High School; and |
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WHEREAS, When Mr. Carrabba was 27 years old, his uncle, |
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Damian Mandola, owner of Damian's Cucina Italiana in Houston, |
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approached him with the idea of founding a restaurant together; the |
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original Carrabba's opened on Kirby Drive in 1986, and a second |
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location followed just two years later; in 1993, industry |
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powerhouse Outback Steakhouse came calling, and a joint venture |
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partnership resulted in the establishment of more than 250 |
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Carrabba's Italian Grill restaurants all across the country; and |
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WHEREAS, Today, Mr. Carrabba and his family continue to own |
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and operate their first two restaurants, which employ more than 200 |
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people, among them many longtime staff members; in 2012, the family |
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launched a new fast-casual concept, Mia's Table, which has since |
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expanded to five more locations; another venture, Grace's, is named |
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after Mr. Carrabba's grandmother, Grace Mandola; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Carrabba credits his success to the values his |
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family instilled, including discipline, hard work, courtesy, and |
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teamwork; he gives back to the community in numerous ways, and he |
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has been especially supportive of charitable organizations |
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benefiting children; and |
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WHEREAS, Entrepreneurship has played a vital role in shaping |
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the history of the Lone Star State, and through his vision, |
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determination, and commitment to excellence, Johnny Carrabba has |
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made noteworthy contributions to a proud tradition; now, therefore, |
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be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas |
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Legislature hereby congratulate Johnny Carrabba III on his receipt |
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of the 2023 Buck N' Ball Award from the Bryan Museum and that he be |
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extended sincere best 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. Carrabba as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |