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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Memories of a life filled with joyful times and |
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meaningful accomplishments remain to comfort the family and friends |
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of Brigadier General Gilberto S. Pena of Weslaco, who passed away on |
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March 25, 2007, at the age of 71; and |
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WHEREAS, General Pena was born and raised in Weslaco and |
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graduated from Weslaco High School; he enlisted in the Texas Army |
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National Guard in 1954 and saw active duty with the 49th Armored |
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Division during the Berlin Crisis in 1961; and |
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WHEREAS, Subsequently selected for Officer Candidate School, |
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Mr. Pena became a commissioned officer and went on to serve in a |
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number of positions, including those of battalion intelligence |
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officer, battalion operations officer, brigade logistics officer, |
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and commander of the valley infantry battalion; in 1985, during the |
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Honduras/Nicaragua crisis, he served as the coordinating head |
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trainer for the U.S. troops that were providing instruction to |
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Honduran military personnel; later promoted to colonel, he |
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commanded the 1st Brigade, 49th Armored Division, in San Antonio |
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until his retirement in 1996; and |
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WHEREAS, Among the numerous decorations and awards conferred |
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on General Pena were the Meritorious Service Medal, the Texas Medal |
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of Merit, and the Lone Star Distinguished Service Medal; Gilberto |
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Pena was posthumously promoted to the rank of brigadier general on |
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April 3, 2007; and |
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WHEREAS, In addition to forging an impressive military |
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career, General Pena enjoyed a successful 40-year business career |
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with the New York Life Insurance Company, a vocation on which he |
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embarked in 1964; he qualified for membership in the Million |
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Dollar Round Table, an organization that only six percent of |
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insurance agents in the world are eligible to join, and he served |
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on the board of directors for both the New York Life Council and the |
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Texas Leaders Round Table; and |
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WHEREAS, Esteemed by his fellow citizens, General Pena served |
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on the Weslaco City Commission from 1976 to 1983 and held the office |
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of mayor pro tem from 1979 to 1980; he also served on the City of |
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Weslaco Planning and Zoning Commission, Hidalgo County Appraisal |
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Board, Mid Valley Medical Investment Board of Directors, and Knapp |
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Medical Center Foundation Board of Directors; in addition, he |
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served as president of the Knapp Medical Center Board of Directors |
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and as a member of the City of Weslaco Development Corporation; and |
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WHEREAS, A former president of the Rotary Club and Exalted |
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Ruler of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks Lodge No. 2057, |
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General Pena additionally chaired the Elks Hoop Shoot youth |
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contest; in recognition of his exemplary civic involvement, he was |
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honored in 2001 as the Outstanding Citizen of Weslaco; and |
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WHEREAS, Gilberto Pena was married to Teresa Gonzalez Pena |
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for more than 40 years, until her passing in 1999, and he was the |
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proud father of four children; and |
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WHEREAS, The life of Gilberto Pena has been an immeasurable |
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blessing to his family, his friends, and his fellow citizens, and he |
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will continue to be held close in the hearts of all who knew and |
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loved him; now, 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 Brigadier General |
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Gilberto S. Pena and extend sincere sympathy to the members of his |
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family: to his children, Jeanie Brown, Susie Sanders, Gilbert Pena, |
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Jr., and Marco Pena; to his grandchildren, Trey Lopez, Cody Brown, |
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and Tammy, Dominic, Joshua, Teresa Jean, Emma Dee, and Marco Pena; |
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to his great-grandchildren, Karsen Lopez and Chloe Olivarez; to his |
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sisters and brothers, Dora Cavazos, Rosa Marquez, and Rolando, |
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Felipe, Carlos, Porfirio, Jaime, Roberto, Estella, and Jorge Pena; |
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and to 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 Brigadier |
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General Gilberto S. Pena. |
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Martinez |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 1543 was unanimously adopted by a |
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rising vote of the House on May 4, 2007. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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