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