1-1 1 1-2 SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 828 1-3 In Memory 1-4 of 1-5 The Honorable Joseph John Salem, Sr. 1-6 WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas joins the citizens 1-7 of Corpus Christi in mourning the loss of Joseph John Salem, Sr., 1-8 who died Wednesday, April 25, 2001, at the age of 80; and 1-9 WHEREAS, A lifetime resident of Corpus Christi, Joe Salem 1-10 was an outstanding citizen of our state and a well-known South Texas 1-11 philanthropist; he was also a businessman, a real estate developer, 1-12 and a politician; and 1-13 WHEREAS, Joe Salem's career was a tribute to the 1-14 entrepreneurial spirit of his father who was a grocer on 1-15 Corpus Christi's Leopard Street; as a child, Joe Salem sold 1-16 soda water for a nickel a half-gallon; as an adult, he was the 1-17 proprietor of a successful jewelry business, a representative 1-18 in the Texas Legislature, and a highly respected civic leader; and 1-19 WHEREAS, Joe Salem served his country during World War II 1-20 as a pilot and flight instructor in the Army Air Corps; he then 1-21 went into the jewelry business, eventually opening a store in the 1-22 mall and one on Alameda Street; and 2-1 WHEREAS, In the late 1960s and early 1970s, Mr. Salem 2-2 served for eight years in the Texas House of Representatives, 2-3 where he earned a reputation as a fearless advocate for 2-4 consumers and working men and women, and supported legislation 2-5 that helped pave the way for a four-year university in the 2-6 City of Corpus Christi; and 2-7 WHEREAS, Well known for his hard work and many 2-8 accomplishments, Mr. Salem co-authored legislation to assist 2-9 families of servicemen killed or missing in action and a bill 2-10 that continued the veterans land program, which would have 2-11 expired in 1973; he also drafted a bill that allowed citizens 2-12 to enjoy area beaches free of charge and one that adopted a new 2-13 method of determining firemen's retirement contributions; and 2-14 WHEREAS, One of the most dramatic episodes of his political 2-15 career was his journey to Paris to hand deliver a resolution 2-16 condemning North Vietnam's treatment of American prisoners of war; 2-17 after making his way past a number of armed guards, he won a meeting 2-18 with a Vietnamese negotiator and returned home to pass a tape of the 2-19 meeting on to the Nixon administration; and 2-20 WHEREAS, Mr. Salem was appointed by President John F. Kennedy 2-21 to the Commission of Employment of the Handicapped and by 2-22 President Lyndon B. Johnson to the Commission of Employment of the 2-23 Older Worker; and 2-24 WHEREAS, Joe Salem was best known for his many humanitarian 2-25 endeavors and his prized leadership in the Corpus Christi community; 2-26 for the past 57 years, Joe Salem sponsored the legendary Joe Salem 3-1 Thanksgiving Dinner for needy families and individuals; the event 3-2 was held annually at the Boys and Girls Club and consistently drew 3-3 a large crowd of grateful citizens; and 3-4 WHEREAS, Joe Salem's invaluable contributions to his community 3-5 earned him numerous awards from police, firefighters, the Boy Scouts 3-6 of America, and other organizations; he was named in "Who's Who in 3-7 the World" and received the League of United Latin American Citizens 3-8 (LULAC) 2000 Community Leader Award; and 3-9 WHEREAS, An exemplary and distinguished gentleman, 3-10 Joe Salem was beloved and respected by his family and by the 3-11 citizens of South Texas; a man of remarkable integrity, generosity, 3-12 and compassion, he made an indelible imprint on his community; and 3-13 WHEREAS, Joe Salem lived his life to the fullest and was a 3-14 devoted husband, father, and grandfather, and he leaves behind 3-15 memories that will be treasured forever by his family and many 3-16 friends; now, therefore, be it 3-17 RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 3-18 77th Legislature, hereby extend sincere condolences to the bereaved 3-19 family of Joseph John Salem, Sr.: his wife, Christine L. Salem; his 3-20 daughter, Chris Salem-Scott; his son, Joey Salem; his sister, 3-21 Marie Salem Habeeb; his daughter-in-law, Mary Salem; and his nine 3-22 grandchildren and great-grandson; and, be it further 3-23 RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for the 3-24 members of his family as an expression of deepest sympathy from the 3-25 Texas Senate, and that when the Senate adjourns this day, it do so 3-26 in memory of Joe Salem. 4-1 Truan 4-2 Armbrister Gallegos Ogden 4-3 Barrientos Harris Shapiro 4-4 Bernsen Haywood Shapleigh 4-5 Bivins Jackson Sibley 4-6 Brown Lindsay Staples 4-7 Cain Lucio Van de Putte 4-8 Carona Madla Wentworth 4-9 Duncan Moncrief West 4-10 Ellis Nelson Whitmire 4-11 Fraser Zaffirini 4-12 Ratliff, President of the Senate 4-13 ______________________________________ 4-14 President of the Senate 4-15 I hereby certify that the above 4-16 Resolution was adopted by the Senate 4-17 on April 27, 2001, by a rising vote. 4-18 ______________________________________ 4-19 Secretary of the Senate 4-20 ______________________________________ 4-21 Dean of the Senate