79R3833 BJM-D

By:  Herrero                                                      H.R. No. 132



R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS, A full and rewarding life came to a close with the 
passing of Ruben V. Garza, Sr., of Robstown on December 28, 2004, at 
the age of 73; and
	WHEREAS, Born on June 27, 1931, Mr. Garza enlisted in the U.S. 
Army and served in the Korean War from 1951 to 1952; his meritorious 
tour of duty earned him a Purple Heart and the Korean service medal 
with three bronze service stars; and
	WHEREAS, After the war, Mr. Garza continued to give to his 
country as an employee of the Corpus Christi Army Depot, from which 
he eventually retired; he further demonstrated his patriotism and 
devotion to his fellow servicemen through his active participation 
in the Disabled American Veterans and the American GI Forum 
Veteran's Outreach program, which he served as a member of the state 
board of directors and as local, district, and regional chair; 
moreover, he founded the Robstown American GI Forum Housing Project 
in 1969 and served as chair of its board of trustees; and
	WHEREAS, Mr. Garza gave generously of his time and talents to 
the city he loved to call home; a valued member of the Robstown City 
Council, he served as mayor pro tempore and maintained an active 
membership in the Kiwanis Club and Iglesia Cristiana Bet-El; and
	WHEREAS, Preceded in death by his beloved brothers Noe Garza 
and Jose Garza, Mr. Garza will best be remembered for his kindness 
and compassion, his delightful sense of humor, and his love of 
family and friends; a true inspiration to all who were privileged to 
know him, he will undoubtedly live on in the hearts of those whose 
lives he so richly blessed; now, therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 79th Texas 
Legislature hereby pay special tribute to the life of Ruben V. 
Garza, Sr., and extend deepest sympathy to the members of his 
family:  to his children, Rosa Linda Silva, Sylvia Ann "BeBe" 
Bellfield, and Ruben V. Garza, Jr.; to his brothers, Rafael, 
Eleodoro, Ignacio, Mauro, Gilberto, and Homero Garza; to his 
grandchildren, Anissa and Shawn Zilka and Autumn Renee and Marcell 
"Trip" Bellfield; to his great-granddaughter, Nevaeh Zilka; and to 
his other family members and many friends; and, be it further
	RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 
prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of 
Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Ruben V. 
Garza, Sr.