1-1                                     1                                  
 1-2                         SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 1136
 1-3           WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas takes great pride
 1-4     in recognizing Ray Villareal and his son, Gus Villareal, for
 1-5     their outstanding work with poor children and adults in El Paso
 1-6     and Juarez; and
 1-7           WHEREAS, The former owner of Footfit Shoe Store in El Paso,
 1-8     Mr. Villareal sold his shop in 1998 and moved to San Antonio to
 1-9     be nearer his family; he left a legacy of thousands of children
1-10     who could walk and run after he worked with them and supplied
1-11     them with shoes, orthopedic equipment, or artificial limbs; and
1-12           WHEREAS, Ray Villareal began his work with children with
1-13     special needs in 1967; every Sunday until he sold his store,
1-14     Mr. Villareal drove to Juarez to the central fire station to
1-15     bring shoes and orthopedic devices to those who needed them;
1-16     Ray donated all the equipment, and he felt that it was all
1-17     worthwhile because sometimes a child or adult would walk for
1-18     the first time; and
1-19           WHEREAS, Ray and Gus Villareal are certified orthotists and
1-20     pedorthists, with Gus specializing in making artificial limbs
1-21     and braces; Ray is proud that he and Gus are some of the few
1-22     Mexican Americans in the orthopedic footwear field and are
1-23     members of the Prescription Footwear Association; and
 2-1           WHEREAS, The winner of many honors and awards for his work,
 2-2     Ray Villareal was awarded the Italian-American National Hall
 2-3     of Fame's coveted Humanitarian Award in 1981 for his charitable
 2-4     contributions to the poor; and
 2-5           WHEREAS, In 1984, Ray Villareal was honored as recipient
 2-6     of the Volunteer Action Award, a prize given to him by
 2-7     President Ronald Reagan at the White House; Mr. Villareal received
 2-8     the award for his longtime efforts on behalf of the poor children
 2-9     in El Paso and Juarez; and
2-10           WHEREAS, Other significant honors given to Ray Villareal
2-11     have included the City of El Paso's Conquistador Award, the
2-12     Sertoma Mankind Award, the El Paso Police Humanitarian Award,
2-13     and the LULAC Humanitarian Award; and
2-14           WHEREAS, The achievements of Ray Villareal, his son, Gus,
2-15     and the rest of the family have benefitted over 100,000 children
2-16     through the years; they are truly worthy of legislative recognition;
2-17     now, therefore, be it
2-18           RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,
2-19     77th Legislature, hereby commend and applaud Ray Villareal and
2-20     Gus Villareal for their outstanding contributions to the lives
2-21     of thousands of children and adults; and, be it further
2-22           RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for
2-23     them as an expression of highest regard from the Texas Senate.
2-24                                                               Shapleigh
2-25                                  ______________________________________
2-26                                          President of the Senate
2-27                                       I hereby certify that the above
 3-1                                  Resolution was adopted by the Senate
 3-2                                  on May 22, 2001.
 3-3                                  ______________________________________
 3-4                                          Secretary of the Senate
 3-5                                  ______________________________________
 3-6                                           Member, Texas Senate