H.R. No. 29 



R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS, For nearly 30 years, Starr County Memorial Hospital 
in Rio Grande City has provided exceptional health care to South 
Texas residents; and
	WHEREAS, This outstanding public hospital, which opened in 
1975, came into being through the hard work and efforts of community 
leaders like Dr. Mario Ramirez and others, who saw the need for a 
major hospital for the community; Dr. Ramirez, who had established 
a small hospital in Roma after World War II, worked successfully 
with county leaders for the creation of a hospital district while 
serving as county judge from 1969 to 1978; after Starr County 
Memorial was built, Dr. Ramirez practiced there himself until 1993; 
and
	WHEREAS, Today, under the able leadership of administrator 
Thalia Munoz, a dedicated staff offers an array of surgical, 
medical, obstetric, and pediatric services, which have been 
enhanced following extensive expansion of the hospital's physical 
plant; and
	WHEREAS, With nearly 1,500 babies born at the hospital since 
October 2001, the construction of a new 10,000-square-foot 
obstetrical wing, featuring labor, delivery, recovery, and 
postpartum rooms and a spacious nursery, has brought a welcome 
addition; other hospital services include a new gastroenterology 
lab, a new cardiopulmonary lab with a Holter monitor, equipment to 
perform adult and pediatric echocardiograms and to measure stress 
and pulmonary function, and a forthcoming hyperbaric and wound 
center; and
	WHEREAS, A level 4 trauma center, Starr County Memorial 
Hospital's emergency department works in conjunction with its 
ambulance service and four substations throughout the county to 
provide urgently required medical care; moreover, the hospital will 
soon be opening its third rural clinic in order to better meet the 
health care needs of area families; and
	WHEREAS, Since 1975, Starr County Memorial Hospital has 
remained dedicated to promoting an improved quality of life for 
individuals in this section of the Lower Rio Grande Valley, and it 
is a pleasure to recognize the exemplary service provided by its 
administrators and staff; now, therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 78th Texas 
Legislature, 3rd Called Session, hereby heartily commend all those 
affiliated with Starr County Memorial Hospital for their commitment 
to providing superior medical care to the people of Starr County; 
and, be it further
	RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 
prepared for Starr County Memorial Hospital as an expression of 
high regard by the Texas House of Representatives.

                                                                         Guillen

                                                  ______________________________
                                                       Speaker of the House     

	I certify that H.R. No. 29 was adopted by the House on 
September 16, 2003, by a non-record vote.

                                                  ______________________________
                                                     Chief Clerk of the House