R E S O L U T I O N
 1-1           WHEREAS, The passing of Leslie L. Gilmore of McAllen on May
 1-2     5, 2000, at the age of 90, deeply saddened the family and many
 1-3     friends of this fine man; and
 1-4           WHEREAS, A native of Bowie, he moved to the Valley in 1932
 1-5     and met his future wife the following year; Mr. Gilmore and the
 1-6     former Loretta Wilder were married in 1939 and enjoyed a close
 1-7     relationship during 61 years together, and they took great pride in
 1-8     their family, which spanned three generations; and
 1-9           WHEREAS, Mr. Gilmore was employed with the Rado Refinery
1-10     until he and J. Frank Gross went into business together when they
1-11     founded the Gilmore-Gross Oil Company, from which he retired in
1-12     1990; and
1-13           WHEREAS, Active in many civic organizations, Mr. Gilmore was
1-14     a 50-year Master Mason and a member of the McAllen Rotary Club for
1-15     more than half a century, and he retired as captain after 25 years
1-16     of service as a volunteer fireman; he was a Past Master of McAllen
1-17     Lodge No. 1110 A.F. & A.M., a 33rd Degree Scottish Rite Mason, a
1-18     Knight Commander Court of Honor, and a member of the Red Cross
1-19     Constantine, where he was a DeMolay Dad and an honorary member of
1-20     Daughters of the Nile, and he was a member of the McAllen Chamber
1-21     of Commerce Greeters; and
1-22           WHEREAS, Mr. Gilmore's contributions were recognized with the
1-23     Golden Trowel Award for Exceptional Service from the Grand Lodge of
1-24     Texas A.F. & A.M. in 1993 and a Paul Harris Fellow Award from
 2-1     Rotary International, and he was named Outstanding Citizen--Man of
 2-2     the Year in 1968 by the McAllen Chamber of Commerce; and
 2-3           WHEREAS, Known as the "McAllen Barbeque King," he donated his
 2-4     time and talents cooking for the benefit of numerous local
 2-5     charities and schools, as well as for nearly every Grand Master's
 2-6     visit for the past 15 years; his notable community support was
 2-7     saluted with the naming of the Les Gilmore Kitchen at the Charles
 2-8     Curtis County Park in McAllen; and
 2-9           WHEREAS, Those who were privileged to share the friendship of
2-10     Mr. Gilmore will long miss his presence, and he will surely be
2-11     remembered with great affection and admiration for many years to
2-12     come; now, therefore, be it
2-13           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 77th Texas
2-14     Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Leslie L. Gilmore and
2-15     extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family:  to his wife,
2-16     Loretta Gilmore; to his daughter and son-in-law, Lynetta and Mike
2-17     Manning; to his son and daughter-in-law, John Leslie and Barbara
2-18     Gilmore; to his grandchildren, Jeffrey Manning, Evan Daniel
2-19     Gilmore, and Molly Lynn Manning; and to the other relatives and
2-20     many friends of this esteemed man; and, be it further
2-21           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
2-22     prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of
2-23     Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Leslie L.
2-24     Gilmore.
                                                                   Gutierrez
                                             _______________________________
                                                   Speaker of the House
               I certify that H.R. No. 826 was unanimously adopted by a
         rising vote of the House on May 11, 2001.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Chief Clerk of the House