By Luna                                                H.R. No. 947
         77R14394 JKB-D                           
                                 R E S O L U T I O N
 1-1           WHEREAS, The citizens of Corpus Christi lost an esteemed
 1-2     businessman, community leader, and treasured friend with the
 1-3     passing of former State Representative Joseph John "Joe" Salem on
 1-4     April 25, 2001; and
 1-5           WHEREAS, The son of Corpus Christi grocer Sam Salem, this
 1-6     native Texan joined the United States Army shortly after graduating
 1-7     from high school and served his country as a pilot and flight
 1-8     instructor during World War II; on his return to the Lone Star
 1-9     State, Mr. Salem followed in his father's footsteps and became a
1-10     merchant, opening a successful jewelry store in his hometown; and
1-11           WHEREAS, Mr. Salem remained a resident of Corpus Christi
1-12     throughout his life and represented the area in the Texas House of
1-13     Representatives from 1967 to 1976 and served as an interim speaker
1-14     of the house; during his fine tenure as a state representative, he
1-15     earned the respect and admiration of his colleagues and
1-16     constituents alike as an advocate for education as well as for
1-17     legislation supporting local firemen and police officers, and the
1-18     establishment of the first four-year university in the area; and
1-19           WHEREAS, In 1971, he further demonstrated his commitment to
1-20     this nation during the Vietnam War by traveling to Paris  at his
1-21     own expense in an attempt to meet with the North Vietnamese
1-22     delegation and make a personal plea to release American prisoners
1-23     and end the Vietnam War; appointed by President John F. Kennedy to
1-24     the Commission of Employment of the Handicapped and by President
 2-1     Lyndon B. Johnson to the Commission of Employment of the Older
 2-2     Worker, he also gave generously of his time and many talents to a
 2-3     host of worthwhile civic organizations, and was honored for his
 2-4     efforts by the Boy Scouts of America, LULAC, the NAACP, the Kiwanis
 2-5     Clubs, the Alliance Clubs, the Optimists Club, and others too
 2-6     numerous to mention; and
 2-7           WHEREAS, In addition, this remarkable gentleman funded the
 2-8     Boys and Girls Club Thanksgiving dinner in Corpus Christi for the
 2-9     past 57 years, and in recent years had been giving away bicycles at
2-10     the event; and
2-11           WHEREAS, Joe Salem was truly a humanitarian, and while he
2-12     will be greatly missed, his legacy of compassion and selflessness
2-13     will not soon be forgotten; now, therefore, be it
2-14           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 77th Texas
2-15     Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Joseph John "Joe"
2-16     Salem and extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to
2-17     his wife, Christine L. Salem; to his children, Chris Salem-Scott
2-18     and Joey Salem; to his daughter-in-law, Mary Salem; to his sister,
2-19     Marie Salem Habeeb; to his grandchildren, Devry Orrick Murgatroyd,
2-20     John and Price Salem, Brittany Ann, Cody James, Dylan Matthew, and
2-21     Sam Salem III, and Morgen Marie and Reann Salem; to his
2-22     great-grandson, Myles Edward Hernandez; and to his other relatives
2-23     and many friends; and, be it further
2-24           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
2-25     prepared for the members of his family and that when the Texas
2-26     House of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of
2-27     the Honorable Joseph John "Joe" Salem.