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