1-1                                     1
 1-2                         SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 1185
 1-3                                  In Memory
 1-4                                     of
 1-5                           Jose "Chito" Vela, Jr.
 1-6           WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas joins the citizens
 1-7     of Laredo in mourning the loss of one of the city's most esteemed
 1-8     attorneys, Jose "Chito" Vela, Jr., who died May 24, 1999; and
 1-9           WHEREAS, A man of great accomplishment, he leaves a legacy
1-10     of commitment and devotion to his family, his community, and his
1-11     country; and
1-12           WHEREAS, At the time of his death, he was a successful and
1-13     highly respected attorney with the firm of Vela, Perez and Pena,
1-14     practicing civil and criminal defense law, primarily in Webb and
1-15     Zapata counties; and
1-16           WHEREAS, A lifelong resident of Laredo, Mr. Vela graduated
1-17     from Martin High School in 1961 and received his undergraduate
1-18     degree from Texas A&I University in 1964; and
1-19           WHEREAS, After earning his doctor of jurisprudence degree
 2-1     from the University of Houston, he enlisted in the United States
 2-2     Air Force and served his country with distinction; and
 2-3           WHEREAS, After working with the Laredo Independent School
 2-4     District, Southwest Texas State University, the City of Waco, and
 2-5     the Governor's Office as legal counsel for the Mexican American
 2-6     Council for Economic Progress, Mr. Vela returned to Laredo to
 2-7     establish himself as a widely respected and successful attorney;
 2-8     and
 2-9           WHEREAS, Mr. Vela contributed immensely to the community
2-10     he loved by serving as County Commissioner, Precinct 3, from
2-11     1981 to 1984, Justice of the Peace, Precinct 1, Place 1, from
2-12     1977 to 1980, and chairperson of the Laredo Charter Revision
2-13     Committee in 1979; his generosity of spirit and strength of
2-14     character will be sorely missed by all who knew and worked with
2-15     him; now, therefore, be it
2-16           RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,
2-17     76th Legislature, hereby extend sincere condolences to those
2-18     he held dear:  his wife, Victoria Trevino Vela; his son,
2-19     Jose "Chito" Vela; his mother, Andrea Vela Trevino; his sister,
2-20     Maria Elena Meier; and his grandmother, Reyes Santos; and, be
2-21     it further
2-22           RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for the
2-23     members of his family as an expression of deepest sympathy from
2-24     the Texas Senate, and that when the Senate adjourns this day, it
 3-1     do so in memory of Jose "Chito" Vela, Jr.
 3-2                                                               Zaffirini
 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 May 29, 1999, by a rising vote.
 3-8                                  ______________________________________
 3-9                                          Secretary of the Senate
3-10                                  ______________________________________
3-11                                           Member, Texas Senate