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.