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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Residents of Laredo lost a dedicated civic leader |
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and cherished friend with the passing of Francisco Javier |
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Montemayor, Sr., on July 4, 2008, at the age of 63; and |
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WHEREAS, A native of Laredo, Javier Montemayor attended local |
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public schools before earning a bachelor's degree from Texas A&M |
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University--Kingsville and a master's degree from Texas A&M |
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International University; answering his nation's call to duty, he |
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was commissioned a lieutenant in the United States Army in 1968, and |
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served a two-year tour during the Vietnam conflict; at the time of |
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his retirement from the armed forces, he held the rank of lieutenant |
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colonel; and |
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WHEREAS, In the 1970s, Mr. Montemayor worked for the Laredo |
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Independent School District as an ROTC drill instructor and as a |
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counselor at the veterans affairs office, assisting area veterans |
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in pursuit of higher-education opportunities; and |
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WHEREAS, After he graduated from the Thurgood Marshall School |
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of Law at Texas Southern University in 1982, Mr. Montemayor went to |
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work as an assistant district attorney for Webb and Zapata Counties |
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and later as an associate municipal court judge for the City of |
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Laredo; in 1986, he was appointed by the Webb County Commissioners |
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Court to establish the Webb County public defenders office, which |
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he launched in 1988; a tireless advocate for those who could not |
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afford legal counsel, Mr. Montemayor motivated his staff to follow |
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his example, and the county agency grew considerably under his |
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skilled leadership; highly respected in the legal community, Mr. |
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Montemayor directed the public defenders office until he retired in |
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2005 to enter private practice; through the years, he maintained |
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professional affiliations with the Laredo-Webb County Bar |
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Association, the State Bar of Texas, and the Texas Criminal Defense |
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Lawyers Association; and |
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WHEREAS, This esteemed Texan was an avid hunter and horseman |
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who loved spending time on his ranch, and he took great pleasure in |
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entertaining his friends and family by singing and playing the |
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guitar; held in deep affection for his generous spirit and |
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readiness to extend a helping hand to others, he also contributed to |
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numerous organizations, including the American Legion, the League |
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of United Latin American Citizens, and the Washington's Birthday |
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Celebration Association; and |
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WHEREAS, Javier Montemayor believed in protecting the rights |
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of the underrepresented and less privileged members of his |
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community, and he leaves behind a legacy of public service that will |
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continue to inspire all those who were fortunate enough to know him; |
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now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Francisco Javier |
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Montemayor, Sr., and extend sincere sympathy to the members of his |
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family: to his wife of more than 40 years, Catalina Montemayor; to |
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his sons, Javier, Tony, and Marco Montemayor; to his grandchildren, |
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Jennifer, Valerie, Tony, Mia, Alexandra, and Marco; and to his |
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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 Francisco |
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Javier Montemayor, Sr. |