By Gallego                                             H.R. No. 877
       74R9917 SAJ-D
                                  R E S O L U T I O N
    1-1        WHEREAS, The wedding anniversary of two outstanding Texans
    1-2  who have shared 50 happy and rewarding years of marriage is truly a
    1-3  memorable occasion worthy of special recognition; and
    1-4        WHEREAS, Mr. and Mrs. Rafael Mendez of Del Rio had the
    1-5  privilege of commemorating such a momentous event in their lives
    1-6  when they celebrated their golden wedding anniversary on July 22,
    1-7  1994; and
    1-8        WHEREAS, The festivities were preceded with a Mass at San
    1-9  Agustin Church, where the couple asked their close friend, Father
   1-10  Leo Gauvin, to renew their wedding vows; as a special tribute, the
   1-11  Mendezes' son-in-law, Sergio Mireles, sang during the service; and
   1-12        WHEREAS, Later in the evening, Mr. and Mrs. Mendez were
   1-13  guests of honor at a gala affair hosted by their children and their
   1-14  children's spouses, Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Mendez, Jr., Mr. and
   1-15  Mrs. Arturo Andres, Mr. and Mrs. Steve Mendez, and Mr. and
   1-16  Mrs. Sergio Mireles; they greatly enjoyed dancing to the music of
   1-17  Freddy Gonzalez, and the pair capped off the joyous evening with a
   1-18  trip to Breckenridge, Colorado; and
   1-19        WHEREAS, United in matrimony in 1944, Mr. and Mrs. Mendez
   1-20  have enjoyed an enduring relationship that has grown in love and
   1-21  mutual respect with each passing year and that has been blessed
   1-22  with the birth of four cherished children; and
   1-23        WHEREAS, The Mendezes lived in Laredo before settling in Del
   1-24  Rio and have been highly regarded members of each community,
    2-1  raising their fine family and enriching not only their own lives
    2-2  but the lives of those around them with their devotion to one
    2-3  another; and
    2-4        WHEREAS, Now surrounded by a loving family that has grown to
    2-5  include their children's spouses, nine grandchildren, and, most
    2-6  recently, a great-granddaughter, Mr. and Mrs. Mendez are deservedly
    2-7  enjoying the many benefits of a full and active life together, and
    2-8  they look forward to each day with the same enthusiasm that first
    2-9  sparked their romance more than half a century ago; and
   2-10        WHEREAS, Built on a foundation of mutual love, trust, and
   2-11  support, their life together has been a source of joy and
   2-12  inspiration to the many people who have come to know them; now,
   2-13  therefore, be it
   2-14        RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 74th Texas
   2-15  Legislature hereby congratulate Mr. and Mrs. Rafael Mendez on their
   2-16  50th wedding anniversary and extend to them warmest best wishes for
   2-17  their continued happiness; and, be it further
   2-18        RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
   2-19  prepared for Mr. and Mrs. Mendez as an expression of high regard by
   2-20  the Texas House of Representatives.