By Solis of Cameron                                    H.R. No. 932
         76R15920 GMW-D                           
                                 R E S O L U T I O N
 1-1           WHEREAS, The Honorable Moises Vela has long been an
 1-2     outstanding civic leader in Harlingen, and it is indeed fitting to
 1-3     commend him for his many notable achievements; and
 1-4           WHEREAS, A native of Harlingen, Judge Vela graduated from
 1-5     Harlingen High School and, as a young man, served his country with
 1-6     the utmost distinction as a member of the 40th Infantry Division of
 1-7     the Army during the Korean War; and
 1-8           WHEREAS, This esteemed gentleman attended Texas Southmost
 1-9     College in Brownsville and St. Mary's University in San Antonio,
1-10     earning a law degree from the university's school of law in 1955;
1-11     after working for a time as the assistant district attorney in
1-12     Cameron County, he chose to pursue a private practice in 1957; and
1-13           WHEREAS, He began an exemplary tenure in 1970 as a Harlingen
1-14     Municipal Court judge, a position he held until 1982; he then
1-15     served a four-year term as Cameron County judge before returning in
1-16     1991 to the bench of the Harlingen Municipal Court for a second
1-17     tenure that spanned seven years until his retirement from the bench
1-18     in 1998; and
1-19           WHEREAS, Through the years, Judge Vela has drawn strength and
1-20     inspiration from his beloved wife, Mary Jo, and their enduring
1-21     union has been blessed with five children, Manuel "Manny" Vela,
1-22     Moises Vela, Patsy Vela Cavazos, Luti Gude, and Pepper Arguello,
1-23     and 10 grandchildren, David, Daniel, Javier, Marika, Brianna, Manny
1-24     Mac, Alyssa, Bianca, Tomas, and Esteban; and
 2-1           WHEREAS, Judge Moises Vela has distinguished himself as a
 2-2     public servant of ability and integrity, and it is most fitting at
 2-3     this time to pay tribute to him for his significant
 2-4     accomplishments; now, therefore, be it
 2-5           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 76th Texas
 2-6     Legislature hereby recognize the Honorable Moises Vela for his many
 2-7     years of hard work and dedication to others and extend to him
 2-8     sincere best wishes for continued success and happiness; and, be it
 2-9     further
2-10           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
2-11     prepared for Judge Vela as an expression of high regard by the
2-12     Texas House of Representatives.