By Gutierrez                                          H.R. No. 1113

         75R16563 SAJ-D                           

                                 R E S O L U T I O N

 1-1           WHEREAS, The passing of Joe Vera, Jr., on May 9, 1996, at the

 1-2     age of 71, brought a great loss to the many friends and relatives

 1-3     of this distinguished Texan; and

 1-4           WHEREAS, Mr. Vera was widely known throughout the Rio Grande

 1-5     Valley as a music promoter and owner of several dance halls, in

 1-6     which capacity he nurtured his abiding interest in Tejano and

 1-7     Conjunto music; he drew on his extensive talents and experience in

 1-8     the music industry to bring to the area such renowned performers as

 1-9     Conway Twitty, the Glenn Miller Band, and the Perez Prado

1-10     Orchestra, much to the delight of his many friends and neighbors;

1-11     and

1-12           WHEREAS, In addition, Mr. Vera pioneered the popular 29-hour

1-13     New Year's Eve dance marathon, and for more than 30 years, he kept

1-14     his audience well informed of key issues as a talk show host on

1-15     radio station KIRT; and

1-16           WHEREAS, A World War II veteran, he also enjoyed a successful

1-17     career as the owner of Joe Vera Trading Company and Big Joe's

1-18     Flowers, and further served his community as an active member of

1-19     the Pharr Bridge Board and the International Good Neighbor Council;

1-20     and

1-21           WHEREAS, Despite his many obligations, Mr. Vera worked

1-22     tirelessly to enhance recreational opportunities for area youth,

1-23     sponsoring numerous dances for teenagers at the McAllen Civic

1-24     Center; this remarkable gentleman volunteered with the Pharr 4-H

 2-1     Club for more than two decades, and he was recognized for his

 2-2     outstanding service as an Hidalgo County friend of 4-H; and

 2-3           WHEREAS, Throughout all his endeavors, he was sustained by a

 2-4     deep and abiding religious faith as a devout member of St. Jude's

 2-5     Catholic Church, where he was involved in the St. Jude's Parish

 2-6     Council and the Knights of Columbus; and

 2-7           WHEREAS, A man of great energy and vision, Mr. Vera left an

 2-8     indelible mark on the community he was proud to call home, and

 2-9     though he is gone from us now, his memory endures in the hearts and

2-10     minds of all who were privileged to know him; now, therefore, be it

2-11           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 75th Texas

2-12     Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Joe Vera, Jr., and

2-13     extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to his

2-14     beloved wife of 50 years, Gloria Vera; to his son and

2-15     daughter-in-law, Joe Vera III and Alma Vera; to his daughters and

2-16     sons-in-law, Jo Ann Watts and George Watts, and Linda V. Herrera

2-17     Casas and Marcelina Casas; to his 12 grandchildren; to his

2-18     great-grandson; and to the many other friends and relatives of this

2-19     esteemed individual; and, be it further

2-20           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be

2-21     prepared for the members of his family and that when the Texas

2-22     House of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of

2-23     Joe Vera, Jr.