1-1 1 1-2 SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 304 1-3 In Memory 1-4 of 1-5 Richard Esmond Martin 1-6 WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas joins the citizens 1-7 of El Paso, Texas, in mourning the loss of Richard Esmond Martin, 1-8 who died on February 18, 1999, at the age of 71; and 1-9 WHEREAS, A well-known and beloved local philanthropist 1-10 and owner and president of the three Martin Funeral Homes, 1-11 Richard Martin lived most of his life in El Paso; he moved to the 1-12 West Texas city while in high school and after graduating from 1-13 El Paso High School in 1944 joined the United States Navy; and 1-14 WHEREAS, Richard Martin received an honorable discharge 1-15 from the United States Navy in 1946 after having served 18 months 1-16 of his two-year service on the aircraft carrier, USS Wake Island, 1-17 which helped in the invasion of Iwo Jima and Okinawa; and 1-18 WHEREAS, The death of his father caused him to return home 1-19 from Eckles College of Mortuary Science in Philadelphia, 1-20 Pennsylvania, before his graduation, but he completed his work 1-21 within a year to receive his Texas Funeral Directors License; and 1-22 WHEREAS, Richard Martin expanded the business that he 1-23 inherited from his father, Richard W. Martin, by adding two more 1-24 funeral homes to the original location his father had built in 2-1 1935; the family celebrated 64 years of business in El Paso this 2-2 year; and 2-3 WHEREAS, Respected for his service to the community, 2-4 Richard Martin was on the Chairman's Council of Service Corporation 2-5 International, on the advisory board of Hotel Dieu Medical Center, 2-6 a charter member of the board of directors of the Stanton Medical 2-7 Building, a 4th Degree Knight of Columbus, a charter member of the 2-8 Serra Club, a charter and life member of the Sertoma Club of 2-9 El Paso, and the member of numerous veterans associations, including 2-10 the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars; and 2-11 WHEREAS, Richard Martin was a devout member of Saint Patrick 2-12 Cathedral and on July 17, 1971, was elected and pronounced by 2-13 Pope Paul VI as a Knight of the Order of Saint Gregory the Great of 2-14 the Civil Class, which was the highest honor a Catholic lay person 2-15 could receive from the church; and 2-16 WHEREAS, Richard Martin was a loving husband and father; his 2-17 warmth, giving nature, and humor will be missed by his family and 2-18 many friends; now, therefore, be it 2-19 RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 2-20 76th Legislature, hereby extend heartfelt condolences to the 2-21 family of Richard Esmond Martin: his wife, Juanita; his children, 2-22 Richard, William, Paul, Trudy, Cathy, Therese, and Carson; and his 2-23 13 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren; and, be it further 2-24 RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for the 2-25 members of his family as an expression of deepest sympathy from the 2-26 Texas Senate, and that when the Senate adjourns this day, it do so 3-1 in memory of Richard E. Martin. 3-2 Shapleigh 3-3 ______________________________________ 3-4 President of the Senate 3-5 I hereby certify that the above 3-6 Resolution was adopted by the Senate 3-7 on March 1, 1999, by a rising vote. 3-8 ______________________________________ 3-9 Secretary of the Senate 3-10 ______________________________________ 3-11 Member, Texas Senate