By Uher                                               H.R. No. 1236
         77R17349 WMS-D                           
                                 R E S O L U T I O N
 1-1           WHEREAS, The passing of former Texas legislator and state
 1-2     district court judge Raul L. Longoria on May 7, 2001, at the age of
 1-3     80, has brought a great loss to his family and friends and to the
 1-4     State of Texas; and
 1-5           WHEREAS, Born February 22, 1921, Judge Longoria grew up in
 1-6     the community of La Grulla in Starr County and served his nation
 1-7     with distinction in the European Theater during World War II; and
 1-8           WHEREAS, He joined the Texas Legislature in 1960 as a member
 1-9     of the house of representatives and took his considerable skills to
1-10     the other chamber when he was elected to the senate in 1972; during
1-11     his highly productive tenure with the legislature, which included
1-12     work on the appropriations committee, he sponsored legislation on
1-13     such vital issues as labor, health, and education; and
1-14           WHEREAS, Senator Longoria was Governor for a Day on December
1-15     9, 1978, and gained national attention as a member of the highly
1-16     publicized "Killer Bees" the following year; and
1-17           WHEREAS, Elected judge of the 139th District Court in Hidalgo
1-18     County in 1980, he was a credit to the bench throughout his 14
1-19     years in that demanding post; and
1-20           WHEREAS, In recognition of his noteworthy contributions, this
1-21     exemplary Texan was honored by having a road in Hidalgo County
1-22     named after him, and an elementary school in the Pharr-San
1-23     Juan-Alamo School District also bears his name; in addition, he
1-24     created the Raul L. Longoria Scholarship Fund at The University of
 2-1     Texas--Pan American; and
 2-2           WHEREAS, Throughout the course of his career in public
 2-3     service, Judge Longoria labored ceaselessly to make government
 2-4     responsive to the needs of his fellow citizens, and his significant
 2-5     achievements in that regard will continue to serve Texans for many
 2-6     years to come; now, therefore, be it
 2-7           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 77th Texas
 2-8     Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of its esteemed
 2-9     colleague, Raul L. Longoria, and extend sincere sympathy to his
2-10     family: to his wife, Earlene M. Longoria; to his children and
2-11     grandchildren; and to the other friends, family, and admirers of
2-12     this Lone Star statesman; and, be it further
2-13           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
2-14     prepared for the members of his family and that when the Texas
2-15     House of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of
2-16     Raul Longoria.