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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Descendants of Alvino Soza are gathering in the |
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Brazos Valley of Texas for a family reunion on June 30, 2007, and |
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this happy occasion provides a fitting opportunity to pay tribute |
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to the legacy of this esteemed Texan; and |
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WHEREAS, Alvino Soza was born to Antonio Soza and Maria Inez |
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Escobar on December 16, 1860; following in his father's footsteps, |
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he was instrumental in settling and developing land in Starr |
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County, known as Porcion 76, a portion of land granted by the king |
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of Spain to Jose Miguel Antonio Ramirez and Maria Rita Lopez de |
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Jaen; the land later belonged to the stepson of Mr. Ramirez, Jose |
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Maria Escobar, who became known as the Patriarch of Porcion 76; and |
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WHEREAS, During his lifetime, Mr. Soza helped to establish a |
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village along the Rio Grande, named Los Escobares in honor of the |
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patriarch; Mr. Soza and other elders in the village outlined the |
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requirements for a unified community, and following his selection |
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by his peers as commissioner, he was charged with enforcing the |
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agreement; highly respected for his insights and advice, he also |
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served as a peace officer and counselor, assisting in the |
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resolution of various disputes, especially those involving open |
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community property, as a large part of the area was undivided and |
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sparsely populated; in 2006, after more than a century of growth, |
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the village was chartered as the city of Escobares; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Soza and the other settlers, both alone and in |
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caravan, traveled periodically by wagon and horseback to and from |
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their ranches and land holdings, located several miles north of the |
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village, to work the land and attend to their livestock, and in |
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drought conditions, when stock tanks went dry, drove their |
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livestock several miles to the Rio Grande for watering; and |
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WHEREAS, A man of honesty and integrity, with a strong work |
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ethic, Mr. Soza lived in a time when a man's word was golden and |
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transactions were often made on only a handshake; he was a man of |
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strong faith and unfaltering optimism as well, both of which |
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virtues he instilled in his children and grandchildren, and today |
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his descendants give back to their communities, state, and nation |
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as military service members, civil servants, first responders, |
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health care professionals, teachers, law enforcement officials, |
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attorneys, and entrepreneurs; and |
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WHEREAS, Carrying on the proud tradition of Alvino Soza, the |
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Soza family continues to contribute to the betterment of the Lone |
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Star State, and its members may take justifiable pride in their |
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myriad accomplishments and rich heritage; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 80th Texas |
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Legislature hereby honor the organizers and participants of the |
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Soza family reunion and extend to all those involved sincere best |
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wishes for a memorable celebration; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the Soza family as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |
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Escobar |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 2046 was adopted by the House on May |
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25, 2007, by a non-record vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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