H.R. No. 169
                                  R E S O L U T I O N
    1-1        WHEREAS, Today, February 14, 1995, the members of the Texas
    1-2  House of Representatives pause to pay tribute to the memory of an
    1-3  outstanding Texan, Mario Martinez Gallegos; and
    1-4        WHEREAS, Born on this day in 1926, Mr. Gallegos was a native
    1-5  of Houston who distinguished himself through a lifetime of service
    1-6  to several Texas communities, retiring as a captain of the Houston
    1-7  Fire Department after 21 years of exemplary performance in that
    1-8  position; and
    1-9        WHEREAS, After his retirement from the Houston department,
   1-10  this outstanding individual served as fire chief for the community
   1-11  of Brownsville and then returned to Houston, where he had a
   1-12  successful eight-year tenure as an arson investigator with the
   1-13  Harris County Fire Marshal's office; and
   1-14        WHEREAS, A Navy veteran of World War II, Mr. Gallegos
   1-15  continued to demonstrate his deeply felt patriotism as a post
   1-16  commander and life member of American Legion Post 472; an ardent
   1-17  Democrat and firm believer in good government, he also contributed
   1-18  his leadership and guidance as a member of the Harris County
   1-19  Democratic Executive Committee and of the Texas Challenging
   1-20  Delegation to the 1968 Democratic National Convention; and
   1-21        WHEREAS, During the course of his career, this highly
   1-22  regarded gentleman played a vital role in a number of professional
   1-23  organizations, including the International Association of Fire
   1-24  Chiefs, the Houston Professional Fire Fighters Association, and the
    2-1  State Fireman & Fire Marshal's Association; his exemplary
    2-2  commitment to his vocation earned the respect and admiration of all
    2-3  who had the pleasure to work with him, hundreds of whom paid
    2-4  tribute to him at a memorial service in August 1990; and
    2-5        WHEREAS, Throughout his life, Mr. Gallegos drew great comfort
    2-6  and support from the love of his family, including his wife Olga, a
    2-7  distinguished trustee of the Houston Independent School District,
    2-8  and his son, our esteemed colleague, Senator Mario Gallegos, Jr.;
    2-9  and
   2-10        WHEREAS, A man of rare spirit and accomplishment,
   2-11  Mr. Gallegos continues to be deeply missed by all who were
   2-12  privileged to know him; though his presence is gone from us now,
   2-13  his image remains as a shining memory in the hearts of those whose
   2-14  lives he touched during his years on this earth; now, therefore, be
   2-15  it
   2-16        RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 74th Texas
   2-17  Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Mario Martinez
   2-18  Gallegos and extend heartfelt sympathy to the members of his
   2-19  family:  to his wife, Olga Gallegos; to his mother and stepfather,
   2-20  Ventura and Frank Alonzo, Sr.; to his sons, Joel Gallegos, Michael
   2-21  Gallegos, and Mario Gallegos, Jr.; to his daughters, Mary Lou
   2-22  Gallegos, Lillian Villarreal, Cynthia Trevino, and Olga McGee; to
   2-23  his brothers, Oscar Gallegos, George Gallegos, Robert Gallegos, and
   2-24  Alonzo Alonzo; to his sisters, Minerva Villagomez, Linda Rodriguez,
   2-25  Yolanda Lorio, and Mary Sanchez; to his 17 grandchildren; and to
   2-26  the many other friends and relatives of this well-loved man; and,
   2-27  be it further
    3-1        RESOLVED, That official copies of this resolution be prepared
    3-2  for the members of his family and that when the Texas House of
    3-3  Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Mario
    3-4  Martinez Gallegos.