By Chavez                                             H.R. No. 1089

         75R15853 JHS-D                           

                                 R E S O L U T I O N

 1-1           WHEREAS, The tragic loss of Jose "Rocky" Galarza on March 19,

 1-2     1997, at the age of 66, has left a tremendous void in the lives of

 1-3     his family and many friends; and

 1-4           WHEREAS, A native Texan and a former Bowie High School sports

 1-5     star, Mr. Galarza was a legendary member of the El Paso community;

 1-6     during the late 1940s, he earned all-state honors in football, as

 1-7     well as all-district recognition in basketball and baseball, and

 1-8     starred on the Bears' 1949 state championship baseball team; and

 1-9           WHEREAS, It was as a boxer, however, that this dynamic man

1-10     made his most notable mark, first as a renowned local fighter and

1-11     later as a successful trainer and coach; the guiding light behind

1-12     the Rocky Galarza Youth Program, Mr. Galarza dedicated himself to

1-13     keeping kids off the streets and out of gangs and teaching them

1-14     discipline and personal responsibility through the rigorous study

1-15     of the sport of boxing; and

1-16           WHEREAS, For more than 30 years, this remarkable man tutored

1-17     and trained hundreds of El Paso's young people in the art of

1-18     boxing, grooming more than 200 local champions and guiding light

1-19     welterweight Ernie Lazcano to a world championship; he devoted

1-20     countless hours to teaching the fundamentals of the sweet science

1-21     to anyone willing to make the commitment to both himself and this

1-22     demanding sport; and

1-23           WHEREAS, After graduating from high school in 1949,

1-24     Mr. Galarza studied accounting at El Paso's Durham College from

 2-1     1952 to 1954 and later supported himself and his family by

 2-2     installing heat and frost insulation during a 32-year career with a

 2-3     local company; each day after work he would work with his young

 2-4     charges, training his "kids" with his special blend of patience,

 2-5     discipline, and love; and

 2-6           WHEREAS, Before his untimely death, many prominent members of

 2-7     the El Paso community had voiced their support for Mr. Galarza's

 2-8     induction into the El Paso Athletic Hall of Fame, and his exploits

 2-9     in the field, on the court, and especially in the ring made him an

2-10     outstanding candidate for this honor; add to that his selfless

2-11     commitment to the many young people who relied on him for guidance,

2-12     and his receipt of this honor is truly deserved; and

2-13           WHEREAS, Jose "Rocky" Galarza was a man of generosity, grace,

2-14     and a rare faith in humankind, and although he will be missed by

2-15     all who knew and loved him, his spirit will no doubt live on in the

2-16     hearts and minds of the many individuals whose lives he touched;

2-17     now, therefore, be it

2-18           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 75th Texas

2-19     Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Jose "Rocky" Galarza

2-20     and extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to his

2-21     former wife, Grace L. Galarza; to his sons, Chuck Galarza, Rocky

2-22     Galarza, Jr., and Joe Galarza; to his daughters, Yvon Villarreal

2-23     and Yvett Jones; to his brothers, Enrique Galarza, Miguel Galarza,

2-24     Lorenzo Galarza, and William Galarza; to his sisters, Mary G.

2-25     Hermosillo, Graciela G. Acosta, and Rebecca G. Parra; to his

2-26     grandchildren and great-grandchild; and to the many other relatives

2-27     and friends of this esteemed man; and, be it further

 3-1           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be

 3-2     prepared for the members of his family and that when the Texas

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

 3-4     Jose "Rocky" Galarza.