By Moreno of Harris                                    H.R. No. 557
         76R10779 GMW-D                           
                                 R E S O L U T I O N
 1-1           WHEREAS, Raul Marquez of Houston has achieved outstanding
 1-2     success in the sport of boxing, and his achievements are truly
 1-3     worthy of special recognition; and
 1-4           WHEREAS, A native of Mexico, Mr. Marquez moved to Texas and
 1-5     settled in Houston in 1975, and he was a graduate of that city's
 1-6     Northshore High School in 1989; with his father as his coach, he
 1-7     began boxing at the age of seven and entered his first amateur
 1-8     match in 1980; and
 1-9           WHEREAS, During his 12-year amateur career, he compiled an
1-10     outstanding record of 139-10, winning two national championships,
1-11     two gold medals at the Olympic Festival, and a silver medal at the
1-12     Goodwill Games; in 1992, he proudly represented the United States
1-13     in the Olympics held in Barcelona, Spain, advancing to the
1-14     quarterfinal round; and
1-15           WHEREAS, Following the Olympics, Mr. Marquez began a highly
1-16     successful professional career, early on receiving the nickname "El
1-17     Diamante," the Spanish word for diamond; with his 1997 knockout of
1-18     Anthony Stephens, he earned the International Boxing Federation
1-19     Junior Middleweight World Title, which he successfully defended
1-20     twice; and
1-21           WHEREAS, Mr. Marquez is currently ranked fourth by the
1-22     International Boxing Federation and seventh by the World Boxing
1-23     Council and North American Boxing Federation, and he has continued
1-24     his quest to regain his title with a recent victory over Michael
 2-1     Lerma in front of his hometown Houston fans, a triumph that ran his
 2-2     overall record to a stellar 30-1; and
 2-3           WHEREAS, In addition to boxing, Mr. Marquez, who is fluent in
 2-4     both Spanish and English, contributes his considerable expertise as
 2-5     a color commentator and has worked for several television networks;
 2-6     and
 2-7           WHEREAS, Throughout his career, he has drawn strength and
 2-8     inspiration from his beloved wife, Mireya, with whom he has two
 2-9     children, Arturo and Raul; he also receives invaluable support from
2-10     his father, Arturo, who serves as his trainer and manager, his
2-11     mother Yolanda, his brother Aldo, and his sister Veronica; and
2-12           WHEREAS, Raul Marquez has distinguished himself as a
2-13     remarkable pugilist, and it is indeed appropriate to pay tribute to
2-14     him at this time; now, therefore, be it
2-15           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 76th Texas
2-16     Legislature hereby honor Raul Marquez for his significant athletic
2-17     achievements and extend to him sincere best wishes for continued
2-18     success and happiness; and, be it further
2-19           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
2-20     prepared for Mr. Marquez as an expression of high regard by the
2-21     Texas House of Representatives.