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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Residents of Del Rio lost a visionary physician and |
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a treasured member of the community with the passing of Dr. Manuel |
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Adrian Martinez, Jr., on August 29, 2008, at the age of 77; and |
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WHEREAS, A native of Del Rio, Manuel Martinez was born to |
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Manuel and Concepcion Martinez on July 22, 1931; he graduated from |
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Sacred Heart Academy in 1951 as valedictorian of his class and |
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answered his nation's call to duty by serving in the U.S. Army from |
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1953 to 1955; and |
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WHEREAS, Following his military service, Dr. Martinez |
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attended St. Mary's University in San Antonio on a full academic |
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scholarship; he went on to earn his medical degree at the Autonomous |
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University of Nuevo Leon in Mexico and became licensed as a general |
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practitioner, surgeon, and OB/GYN before returning to Del Rio to |
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open his practice; over the course of his distinguished career, he |
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delivered more than 12,000 babies, some 2,500 of which were born in |
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Dr. Martinez's own birthing clinic; and |
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WHEREAS, This esteemed physician became a leading figure in |
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area health initiatives, serving as a medical director for Del Rio, |
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Val Verde County, and the state health department; he played a |
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pivotal role in the 1980 creation of the Amistad Binational Health |
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Council, a local chapter of the U.S.-Mexico Border Health |
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Association, and he served as its first copresident; even after he |
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retired from his regular practice, he continued to assist in the |
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county's medical endeavors; in recognition of his multitude of |
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contributions to Del Rio and its surrounding communities, the |
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Amistad Binational Health Council established Dr. Manuel A. |
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Martinez Binational Health Week in his honor; and |
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WHEREAS, In all of his endeavors, Dr. Martinez enjoyed the |
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love and support of his wife, the former Blanca Estella Garza; the |
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couple were blessed with four children, Blanca, Evette Michelle, |
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Manuel, and Lina, and had the pleasure of welcoming eight |
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grandchildren into their family; and |
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WHEREAS, Dr. Manuel Martinez was a skilled and caring doctor |
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who devoted his professional life to assisting his fellow citizens, |
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and his exceptional career will continue to serve as an inspiration |
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to aspiring physicians and community leaders alike; now, therefore, |
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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 Dr. Manuel Adrian |
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Martinez, Jr., and extend sincere sympathy to the members of his |
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family: to his wife, Blanca Estella Garza Martinez; to his |
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children, Blanca Mollai and her husband, Saeid, Michelle O'Donnell |
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and her husband, Brian, Manuel Adrian Martinez III and his wife, |
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Lisa, and Lina Ramon and her husband, Martin; to his grandchildren, |
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Ariana, Catalina, and Isabella Mollai, Sky, Brandon, and Hudson |
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O'Donnell, Alaina Martinez, and Idol Ramon; to his siblings, |
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Consuelo Paredes and Robert, Odilia, and Ricardo Martinez; and to |
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his other relatives and 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 on this day, it do so in memory of Dr. |
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Manuel Adrian Martinez, Jr. |