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 1-2                          SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 97
 1-3           WHEREAS, The achievements of Don Jose Gallego Alemani and
 1-4     his contributions to the City of Laredo are most impressive and
 1-5     are proudly recognized by the Senate of the State of Texas; and
 1-6           WHEREAS, Emphatically encouraged by his family to leave
 1-7     his native country of Spain to avoid conscription into the militia
 1-8     of dictator Francisco Franco, Jose Gallego came to Laredo with his
 1-9     wife, Guadalupe Romo, in 1915; they made a loving home for their
1-10     children, Jorge, Maria Luisa Vicharelli, Raul, Jaime, Blanca Chapa,
1-11     Teresa Gutierrez, and Margarita Cremo, in the Gateway City; and
1-12           WHEREAS, Showing the entrepreneurial spirit that enabled him
1-13     to rapidly become a local real estate magnate, Jose Gallego decided
1-14     to build a local resort and entertainment center; the complex was
1-15     called the Buenos Aires Recreational Center, and it consisted of
1-16     two public swimming pools, a tennis court, two dance halls, and a
1-17     skating rink; and
1-18           WHEREAS, At the skating rink, young people of Laredo met
1-19     socially; it was certainly the most popular attraction of the
1-20     center; and
1-21           WHEREAS, Don Jose Gallego was a proponent of education,
1-22     believing in it so strongly that he donated two city blocks of
1-23     land to the City of Laredo for construction of a school in 1918;
 2-1     the school was finally built when funds became available for it
 2-2     in 1924; and
 2-3           WHEREAS, The first school campus was composed of a two-room
 2-4     building in which there were only three employees; the school was
 2-5     expanded in 1930 and again after a fire in 1970; and
 2-6           WHEREAS, On October 11, 1995, the Buenos Aires Elementary
 2-7     School dedicated a granite marker honoring this remarkable
 2-8     benefactor for his gift of land; and
 2-9           WHEREAS, The genius of Don Jose Gallego was evident in
2-10     every aspect of his work and life; his gift to education and
2-11     his construction of a well-known recreational center constitute
2-12     a living legacy of education and culture to the City of Laredo;
2-13     now, therefore, be it
2-14           RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,
2-15     77th Legislature, hereby honor the generosity of
2-16     Don Jose Gallego Alemani and express its appreciation of his
2-17     gifts to his beloved Laredo; and, be it further
2-18           RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared as
2-19     an expression of highest regard and esteem from the Texas Senate.
2-20                                                               Zaffirini
2-21                                  ______________________________________
2-22                                          President of the Senate
2-23                                       I hereby certify that the above
2-24                                  Resolution was adopted by the Senate
2-25                                  on January 25, 2001.
2-26                                  ______________________________________
2-27                                          Secretary of the Senate
2-28                                  ______________________________________
2-29                                           Member, Texas Senate