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.