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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, A full and generous life came to an end with the |
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passing of Elias Longoria, Sr., of Edinburg who died on August 7, |
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2006, at the age of 75; and |
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WHEREAS, Born on April 26, 1931, in La Reforma, Elias |
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Longoria graduated in 1950 from Edinburg High School, where he |
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excelled in both academics and athletics; he earned a scholarship |
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to attend Pan American College and played as a third baseman for the |
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baseball team before leaving school to serve his country; a veteran |
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of the Korean War, he served as a member of the U.S. Navy from 1951 |
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to 1955; and |
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WHEREAS, This esteemed Texan shared his time and talents with |
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the Edinburg community as a member of the school board for nearly a |
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decade, including serving as the first Hispanic president; his |
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tenure was characterized by his efforts to ensure fair hiring |
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practices, and he was instrumental in hiring the district's first |
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Hispanic superintendent; in addition, he volunteered for more than |
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20 years as a coach for local youth baseball teams; and |
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WHEREAS, After retiring from a distinguished career with |
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Southern Pacific Railroad, Mr. Longoria continued to fulfill his |
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civic duty, serving on the grievance committee of the Edinburg |
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Housing Authority and as a member of the Hidalgo County Grand Jury; |
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moreover, he was a faithful congregant of El Buen Pastor Methodist |
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Church; and |
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WHEREAS, A devoted husband and father, Mr. Longoria shared |
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nearly 50 years with his wife, the former Maruca Garza, and their |
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union was blessed with four children, Elias Longoria, Jr., Luis |
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Longoria, Leticia Lankford, and Victor Longoria; and |
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WHEREAS, Elias Longoria, Sr., was a man known for his strong |
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sense of responsibility and for his humility in the face of numerous |
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accomplishments, and he will be remembered with great affection by |
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all those who held him dear; and |
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WHEREAS, Representative Aaron Pena has justly recognized |
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Elias Longoria, Sr., by authorizing this resolution in his memory |
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during the Regular Session of the 80th Texas Legislature; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 80th Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Elias Longoria, Sr., |
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and extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to his |
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wife, Maruca Longoria; to his children, Elias Longoria, Jr., and |
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his wife, Laurie, Luis Longoria and his wife, Noelia, Victor |
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Longoria and his wife, Kristy, and Leticia Lankford and her |
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husband, Gary; to his grandchildren, Philip, Aaron, Julia, Jon Eli, |
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Adam, Gram, Gray, Marco, Amanda, Chad, Isabella, and Abigail; to |
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his sisters, Rosa Elena March, Elma Vela, and Lidia Gordon; and to |
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his other relatives and many friends; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of |
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Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Elias |
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Longoria, Sr. |
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Pena |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 209 was unanimously adopted by a |
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rising vote of the House on February 8, 2007. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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