R E S O L U T I O N

 1-1           WHEREAS, The untimely passing of Norberto Daniel Cortez

 1-2     Garcia on May 16, 1997, at the age of 54, has brought a great loss

 1-3     to the many friends and relatives of this esteemed Abilene

 1-4     resident; and

 1-5           WHEREAS, Born June 6, 1942, in Hebbronville, he was reared in

 1-6     Corpus Christi and was graduated from Roy Miller High School; and

 1-7           WHEREAS, This patriotic Texan joined the U.S. Air Force in

 1-8     1963 and served his nation with distinction for 20 years; for his

 1-9     exceptional conduct while in the military, Mr. Garcia was awarded a

1-10     number of decorations, including the Meritorious Service Award, Air

1-11     Force Commendation with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Republic of Vietnam

1-12     Service Medal with two Star Engagements, Vietnam Cross of Gallantry

1-13     with Palm, and others too numerous to mention; and

1-14           WHEREAS, He continued his commitment to his fellow servicemen

1-15     and women as Taylor County/National Veterans Service Officer and

1-16     his post encompassed a variety of duties, such as holding meetings

1-17     with veterans' groups, sponsoring the annual Veterans' Day Parade,

1-18     Memorial Day services, and Thanksgiving and Christmas Day dinners,

1-19     and organizing the annual Veterans' Awareness Seminar; and

1-20           WHEREAS, One of Mr. Garcia's most significant accomplishments

1-21     during his years as a National Service Officer was the opening of

1-22     the Abilene VA Community Primary Care Clinic in 1996 that, without

1-23     his vital assistance, would likely have remained an unrealized

1-24     dream for area veterans; and

 2-1           WHEREAS, In recognition of his vast contributions, this

 2-2     remarkable gentleman received a number of well-deserved awards,

 2-3     such as the 1993 Outstanding Veterans Service Officer of the Year

 2-4     award, the 1995 Achievement Award by the Veterans County  Service

 2-5     Officers Association of Texas, and the 1992 Citizen of the Year

 2-6     award from the Non-Commissioned Officers Association, which on

 2-7     three occasions honored Mr. Garcia with its Exceptional Service

 2-8     Award as well; and

 2-9           WHEREAS, A dedicated civic leader, he was also a member of

2-10     the Dyess Federal Credit Union Board of Directors for more than two

2-11     decades, served three years on the Abilene Council for Alcohol and

2-12     Drug Abuse, and was chairman of the Taylor County United Fund Drive

2-13     in 1992-93; and

2-14           WHEREAS, Mr. Garcia was a man of rare commitment to others;

2-15     although his warmth and wisdom will be missed by all who knew him,

2-16     his remarkable spirit will surely live on in the hearts of the many

2-17     people whose lives he touched during his time on this earth; now,

2-18     therefore, be it

2-19           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 75th Texas

2-20     Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Norberto Daniel

2-21     Cortez Garcia and extend sincere sympathy to the members of his

2-22     family: to his former wife, Mary D. Garcia; to his children,

2-23     Madeline, Cyndi, and Christopher; to his brother, Frank Rene

2-24     Cortez; to his aunts, Blanche Amaya and Nativadad Garcia; and to

2-25     the many other friends and relatives of this beloved gentleman;

2-26     and, be it further

2-27           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be

 3-1     prepared for the members of his family and that when the Texas

 3-2     House of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of

 3-3     Norberto Daniel Cortez Garcia.

                                                                      Hunter

                                             _______________________________

                                                   Speaker of the House

               I certify that H.R. No. 1085 was unanimously adopted by a

         rising vote of the House on May 24, 1997.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Chief Clerk of the House