By Solis                                               H.R. No. 380
       74R4907 PAN-D
                                  R E S O L U T I O N
    1-1        WHEREAS, The passing of Cesar Menchaca on July 31, 1994, at
    1-2  the age of 42, has brought a great loss to the many friends and
    1-3  relatives of this esteemed gentleman; and
    1-4        WHEREAS, A native Texan, Mr. Menchaca came from humble roots,
    1-5  having been reared with his seven siblings in the Poinsettia
    1-6  housing project in Brownsville, where he lived through the eighth
    1-7  grade; throughout his high school years, this remarkable young man
    1-8  maintained a full-time job at a local grocery store while attending
    1-9  high school and, despite the many demands on his time, was
   1-10  graduated in the top five percent of his class; and
   1-11        WHEREAS, After graduation, Mr. Menchaca went on active duty
   1-12  with the National Guard for six months before returning to school
   1-13  to pursue his higher education as a student at Texas Southmost
   1-14  College; and
   1-15        WHEREAS, Mr. Menchaca was united in marriage with Norma
   1-16  Lozano in 1972, and the couple would share a loving and rewarding
   1-17  marriage that was blessed by the birth of two daughters, Jacqueline
   1-18  and Claudia, in whom he took great pride; and
   1-19        WHEREAS, Mr. Menchaca completed his education in Austin,
   1-20  earning a bachelor's degree in business administration from The
   1-21  University of Texas at Austin in 1976, and passed his CPA exam the
   1-22  following year; and
   1-23        WHEREAS, After earning his college degree, Mr. Menchaca
   1-24  became a state employee, working for the Governor's Office of
    2-1  Migrant Affairs, the Texas Department of Public Welfare, and the
    2-2  state retirement system before moving to Harlingen to accept a
    2-3  position with the Joe J. Garza CPA firm and, in 1984, opening his
    2-4  own CPA firm there; and
    2-5        WHEREAS, A dedicated civic leader, he contributed his time
    2-6  and talents to the benefit of a host of worthy local organizations,
    2-7  including the Harlingen and Mexican American chambers of commerce,
    2-8  the Harlingen Crime Stoppers, the Valley House Citizens' Advisory
    2-9  Council, and the Harlingen Industrial Development Authority, to
   2-10  name but a few; and
   2-11        WHEREAS, Under his guidance as president of the Harlingen
   2-12  Jaycees in 1981, the chapter was named the recipient of the
   2-13  Giessenbier Award as the outstanding chapter in its population
   2-14  division; that same year, Mr. Menchaca earned well-deserved
   2-15  recognition as the Outstanding Local Jaycees President of Region
   2-16  III; and
   2-17        WHEREAS, A four-term city commissioner and former mayor pro
   2-18  tem, Mr. Menchaca also shared his considerable knowledge and
   2-19  expertise with the greater community as the chairman of the board
   2-20  of the Lower Rio Grande Valley Development Council and the
   2-21  Harlingen Housing Authority; in addition, he served as a director
   2-22  of the Harlingen Industrial Foundation and the Harlingen
   2-23  Development Corporation as well as president of the 100 Men's Club
   2-24  at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church; and
   2-25        WHEREAS, Cesar Menchaca was blessed with the rare ability to
   2-26  give of himself, a gift he expressed through his friendships, his
   2-27  community service, and his positive approach to life; though his
    3-1  life has been cut tragically short, his unique spirit will remain
    3-2  in the hearts of those whose lives he touched for many years to
    3-3  come; now, therefore, be it
    3-4        RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 74th Texas
    3-5  Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Cesar Menchaca and
    3-6  extend deepest sympathy to the members of his family:  to his wife,
    3-7  Norma Lozano Menchaca; to his daughters, Jacqueline and Claudia
    3-8  Menchaca; to his mother, Maria V. Menchaca; to his brothers and
    3-9  sisters-in-law, Manuel and Carol Menchaca, Ramon and Norma
   3-10  Menchaca, Jesus Menchaca, and David Menchaca; to his sisters and
   3-11  brothers-in-law, Sylvia Menchaca, Maria and David del Socorro
   3-12  Martinez, and Elsa and Ruben Recio; to his in-laws, Mr. and
   3-13  Mrs. Damian Lozano; and to his many other friends and relatives;
   3-14  and, be it further
   3-15        RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
   3-16  prepared for the members of his family and that when the Texas
   3-17  House of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of
   3-18  Cesar Menchaca.