By Hinojosa H.R. No. 1023 77R12812 MMS-D R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, Over the course of a long and distinguished career, 1-2 the Honorable Fidencio M. Guerra, Sr., of McAllen has rendered 1-3 inestimable service to his state and to his country; and 1-4 WHEREAS, Born August 6, 1909, on a small ranch in Jim Hogg 1-5 County, Judge Guerra attended The University of Texas at Austin and 1-6 was admitted to the Texas bar in 1940; during World War II he 1-7 served with the United States State Department in Bogota and in 1-8 Madrid, assisting the Colombian government in disposing of German, 1-9 Italian, and Japanese assets, and the Spanish government in 1-10 processing the cases of German and Italian nationals; and 1-11 WHEREAS, After the war Judge Guerra returned to his home in 1-12 McAllen, where he resumed his law practice and stepped back into 1-13 public service; a McAllen city commissioner from 1936 to 1942, he 1-14 held office as a justice of the peace for Hidalgo County from 1946 1-15 to 1949; and 1-16 WHEREAS, During the early years of the Tidelands controversy, 1-17 from 1949 to 1952, Judge Guerra worked as an assistant attorney 1-18 general for the state and was instrumental in preparing the case 1-19 that Texas presented to the U.S. Supreme Court in 1951, defending 1-20 its sovereignty over the disputed offshore territory; and 1-21 WHEREAS, In 1954, Judge Guerra received appointment as 1-22 presiding judge of the newly created 139th District Court of the 1-23 State of Texas in Edinburg; he retained this post in the 1956 1-24 election and then held it without opposition until his retirement 2-1 in 1980; even after stepping down as presiding judge, he continued 2-2 to hear cases as a senior visiting judge by assignment until the 2-3 early 1990s, when he fully retired; and 2-4 WHEREAS, In addition to his duties with the 139th District 2-5 Court, Judge Guerra served as presiding judge of the Fifth 2-6 Administrative Judicial District, covering South Texas, from 1961 2-7 to 1972, and from 1967 to 1968 held a seat on the state's Criminal 2-8 Justice Council, which evaluated the Texas Penal Code and courts 2-9 system; and 2-10 WHEREAS, Notwithstanding the significant demands of his work, 2-11 this notable Texan has given generously of his time and energies to 2-12 numerous community organizations, among them Our Lady of Sorrows 2-13 Catholic Church, the Order of the Alhambra, the McAllen Serra Club, 2-14 and the McAllen Rotary Club; and 2-15 WHEREAS, Throughout a life rich in accomplishments, family, 2-16 and friendships, Judge Guerra has exhibited wisdom, integrity, and 2-17 dedication that have won him the affection and esteem of all who 2-18 have been privileged to know him, and it is indeed a pleasure to 2-19 recognize him at this time; now, therefore, be it 2-20 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 77th Texas 2-21 Legislature hereby commend the Honorable Fidencio M. Guerra, Sr., 2-22 for his exceptional public service; and, be it further 2-23 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 2-24 prepared for Judge Guerra as a token of high esteem by the Texas 2-25 House of Representatives.