R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, The members of Houston's Johnston Middle School 1-2 mariachi band, Los Galgos, have won the first place award at the 1-3 Mariachi Vargas Extravaganza competition, and this achievement is 1-4 truly deserving of special recognition; and 1-5 WHEREAS, Under the experienced leadership of director Carlos 1-6 Niera, this esteemed group of students garnered top honors in the 1-7 competition's middle school category for the second time since the 1-8 band's founding in 1995; and 1-9 WHEREAS, The band, which began with only five members, has 1-10 grown to include 32 talented musicians and has captured a place in 1-11 the hearts of Texans throughout the state; named for the school's 1-12 mascot, the greyhound, Los Galgos features the distinctive sounds 1-13 of the violin, trumpet, guitar, guitarron, and vinuela, as well as 1-14 several gifted vocalists; and 1-15 WHEREAS, No strangers to hard work and dedication, these 1-16 sixth- through eighth-grade students are busy year-round raising 1-17 money to fund their trips to competitions and elaborate uniforms; 1-18 members of Los Galgos participate in fund-raisers and receive 1-19 donations for performing for senior citizens groups, at weddings, 1-20 elementary schools, and quincinieras, and during Spanish Heritage 1-21 Month and Cinco de Mayo; and 1-22 WHEREAS, With the support of the community and the devoted 1-23 instruction of Mr. Niera, the Johnston Middle School mariachi band 1-24 has achieved great success, and this latest accomplishment is a 2-1 tribute to the exceptional efforts of all its members; now, 2-2 therefore, be it 2-3 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 77th Texas 2-4 Legislature hereby congratulate Carlos Niera and the members of Los 2-5 Galgos on the band's success at the Mariachi Vargas Extravaganza; 2-6 and, be it further 2-7 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 2-8 prepared for Mr. Niera and Los Galgos as an expression of high 2-9 regard by the Texas House of Representatives. Hochberg _______________________________ Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 122 was adopted by the House on April 5, 2001, by a non-record vote. _______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House