R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, The passing of Tony Benavides of Fort Stockton on 1-2 July 11, 2000, at the age of 43, brought a great loss to the family 1-3 and friends of this esteemed Texan; and 1-4 WHEREAS, A fifth-generation resident of Fort Stockton, 1-5 Mr. Benavides was born there on July 6, 1957, and graduated from 1-6 Fort Stockton High School in 1975; after serving as a petty officer 1-7 in the United States Navy he began classes at Sul Ross State 1-8 University in the summer of 1979 and graduated with a bachelor of 1-9 business administration degree in December 1982; and 1-10 WHEREAS, This distinguished gentleman then returned to Fort 1-11 Stockton and contributed his time to a number of civic 1-12 organizations, such as the Downtown Association, the Main Street 1-13 Advisory Board, and the Main Street Association, which he helped 1-14 found, as well as the Fort Stockton High School HOSTS member 1-15 program, the Jaycees, and a site-based committee for Apache School; 1-16 and 1-17 WHEREAS, Mr. Benavides was politically active as well, 1-18 serving on the Fort Stockton City Council from 1990 to 1998 and as 1-19 the town's mayor pro tem; he also extended his volunteerism to the 1-20 hospital board, Kiwanis, the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the 1-21 United Way, and the G.I. Forum; in addition, he was a Catholic CCD 1-22 teacher, served on the parish council, and was a member of the Holy 1-23 Name Society; and 1-24 WHEREAS, He was deeply devoted to his wife, Gina, whom he 2-1 married on August 16, 1980, and his loving family, who are joined 2-2 in mourning his untimely passing by his many friends in the 2-3 community; now, therefore, be it 2-4 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 77th Texas 2-5 Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Tony Benavides and 2-6 extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to his wife, 2-7 Virginia A. "Gina" Benavides; to his son, Josef Benavides; to his 2-8 parents, Antonio and Jesusita Benavides; to his brothers and 2-9 sisters-in-law, Orlando and Rachel Benavides and Gilrey and Belinda 2-10 Benavides; and to his other relatives, many friends, and the 2-11 community he so ably served; and, be it further 2-12 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 2-13 prepared for the members of his family and that when the Texas 2-14 House of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of 2-15 Tony Benavides. Gallego _______________________________ Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 20 was unanimously adopted by a rising vote of the House on April 5, 2001. _______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House