By Capelo                                              H.R. No. 588
         77R10507 GMW-D                           
                                 R E S O L U T I O N
 1-1           WHEREAS, The Texas House of Representatives is proud to
 1-2     recognize the Honorable Joaquin Villarreal III of Robstown and to
 1-3     celebrate his dedication to public service; and
 1-4           WHEREAS, This esteemed gentleman joined the U.S. Air Force in
 1-5     1963, and, after being honorably discharged in 1967, he earned a
 1-6     bachelor's degree from The University of Texas at Austin;
 1-7     continuing his education, he completed his law degree at Texas
 1-8     Southern University Law School in Houston in 1974 and shortly
 1-9     thereafter returned to Robstown; and
1-10           WHEREAS, Judge Villarreal would achieve much success in his
1-11     hometown and the Corpus Christi area; after initially working for
1-12     the district attorney's office for a year, he was elected county
1-13     commissioner of Precinct No. 3, a post he held from 1976 to 1981;
1-14     and
1-15           WHEREAS, He then served for four years as the judge of County
1-16     Court at Law No. 3, until he was appointed by Governor Mark White
1-17     as judge of the 347th District Court in 1985; during his 15 years
1-18     as a district judge, he was well regarded for his integrity and
1-19     fairness, and it is a testament to the high esteem in which he is
1-20     held by the community that he ran unopposed in every election until
1-21     his retirement in December 2000; and
1-22           WHEREAS, One of the first Hispanic elected officials in the
1-23     Robstown and Corpus Christi area, Judge Villarreal has been a
1-24     pioneer and a role model to those who have followed in his
 2-1     footsteps and an invaluable asset to the citizens of this state;
 2-2     now, therefore, be it
 2-3           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 77th Texas
 2-4     Legislature hereby pay tribute to the Honorable Joaquin Villarreal
 2-5     III for his outstanding public service and extend to him sincere
 2-6     best wishes for continued success and happiness; and, be it further
 2-7           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
 2-8     prepared for this accomplished Texan as an expression of high
 2-9     regard by the Texas House of Representatives.