H.R. No. 283


R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The passing of former Jefferson County Precinct 2 Constable Anthony Joseph Ippolito of Port Arthur on February 7, 2005, at the age of 81, has brought a profound loss to the family and friends of this beloved civic leader; and WHEREAS, Born on September 23, 1923, Tony Ippolito graduated from St. Mary's High School and attended Texas A&M University before bravely serving his country for three years in the Pacific theater of World War II; and WHEREAS, Following his return to civilian life, the Port Arthur native wed his high school sweetheart, Joyce Moore, with whom he reared three beloved children, Madeline, John, and Maureen; and WHEREAS, Affectionately known as "Mr. Baseball," this lifelong Aggies fan enjoyed a varied and successful career, which included owning, with his brother, Joe, and friends, Ippolito's Grocery, the Port Arthur Seahawks baseball team, which won the 1952 Gulf Coast League Championship, and the Seahawk Drive-In; he also owned the Golden Cask Supper Club and worked in the automotive industry for 20 years; and WHEREAS, Mr. Ippolito ably served his fellow citizens as the Jefferson County constable for Precinct 2 for more than two decades, until his retirement in 1996; during his tenure, he was active in the East Texas Peace Officers Association, the State of Texas Justice of the Peace and Constable Association, and the Texas Association of Counties; and WHEREAS, A charter parishioner of St. Joseph's Catholic Church and former president of St. Joseph's Federal Credit Union, this dedicated civic leader enjoyed active memberships with the Texas A&M 12th Man Foundation, the Southeast Texas American Italian Cultural Club, the VFW, and the American Legion; moreover, he was a charter member of the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., the Evening Sertoma Club, and the Krewe of Aurora; and WHEREAS, Those fortunate enough to have known Tony Ippolito will remember his gentle and optimistic spirit, his ever-present smile, and his enduring love of family and community; although he will be greatly missed, his legacy will live on in his many contributions to his hometown and in the cherished memories of his loved ones; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 79th Texas Legislature hereby pay special tribute to the life of Anthony Joseph Ippolito and extend deepest sympathy to the members of his family: to his wife of 59 years, Joyce Ippolito; to his daughter, Madeline Nicholas, and her husband, Bill; to his son, John Ippolito, and his wife, Gay; to his daughter, Maureen Sanders, and her husband, Jeff; to his grandchildren, Laura Stephens, Chris and Nicole Nicholas, Scott and Jennifer Nicholas, Kristy and Chad Wilson, Penny Ippolito, and Jessica, Jennifer, and Jeffrey Sanders; to his great-grandchildren, Tyler Stephens, Anthony Nicholas, and Karli Wilson; to his stepsisters, Virginia Moore and Roseanne Brocato; to his stepbrothers, Sam and Tommy Dolce; and to his other relatives and 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 Anthony Joseph Ippolito. Ritter Craddick Geren Menendez Allen of Harris Giddings Merritt Allen of Dallas Gonzales Miller Alonzo Gonzalez Toureilles Moreno of Harris Anchia Goodman Moreno of El Paso Anderson Goolsby Morrison Bailey Griggs Mowery Baxter Grusendorf Naishtat Berman Guillen Nixon Blake Haggerty Noriega Bohac Hamilton Oliveira Bonnen Hamric Olivo Branch Hardcastle Orr Brown of Kaufman Harper-Brown Otto Brown of Brazos Hartnett Paxton Burnam Hegar Pena Callegari Herrero Phillips Campbell Hilderbran Pickett Casteel Hill Pitts Castro Hochberg Puente Chavez Hodge Quintanilla Chisum Homer Raymond Coleman Hope Reyna Cook of Navarro Hopson Riddle Cook of Colorado Howard Ritter Corte Hughes Rodriguez Crabb Hunter Rose Crownover Hupp Seaman Davis of Harris Isett Smith of Tarrant Davis of Dallas Jackson Smith of Harris Dawson Jones of Lubbock Smithee Delisi Jones of Dallas Solis Denny Keel Solomons Deshotel Keffer of Dallas Strama Driver Keffer of Eastland Straus Dukes King of Parker Swinford Dunnam King of Zavala Talton Dutton Kolkhorst Taylor Edwards Krusee Thompson Eiland Kuempel Truitt Eissler Laney Turner Elkins Laubenberg Uresti Escobar Leibowitz Van Arsdale Farabee Luna Veasey Farrar Madden Villarreal Flores Martinez Vo Flynn Martinez Fischer West Frost McCall Wong Gallego McClendon Woolley Gattis McReynolds Zedler ______________________________ Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 283 was unanimously adopted by a rising vote of the House on February 24, 2005. ______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House