| |
| |
|
|
R E S O L U T I O N
|
|
|
WHEREAS, The community of Rio Grande City lost one of its most |
|
|
admired residents with the passing of Lino Perez, Jr., on October |
|
|
23, 2008, at the age of 94; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Descended from several Starr County pioneer |
|
|
families, Mr. Perez was born to Lino Perez, Sr., and Cristina Margo |
|
|
in Rio Grande City on September 19, 1914; his grandfather Ruperto |
|
|
Margo and his uncle Idelfonso Hinojosa were prominent Starr County |
|
|
ranchers, while his father served as both mayor and postmaster of |
|
|
Rio Grande City; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Lino Perez, Jr., attended Rio Grande City High |
|
|
School, where he helped to organize the school's first football |
|
|
team; he served as captain and quarterback of the 1931 team, which |
|
|
went undefeated and unscored upon; after graduating in 1931, he |
|
|
continued his studies at Brownsville High School and then at Austin |
|
|
High School in Austin, graduating as valedictorian of the AHS Class |
|
|
of 1933; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Mr. Perez had hoped to enroll at The University of |
|
|
Texas, but his help was needed at home, and he returned to Rio |
|
|
Grande City to assist his father with the running of the post |
|
|
office; his work there was interrupted during World War II, when he |
|
|
answered his country's call to duty and joined the United States |
|
|
Army; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Lino Perez succeeded his father as postmaster in |
|
|
1957, and he continued to hold that position until stepping down in |
|
|
1975, after 41 years' total service; during his tenure as |
|
|
postmaster, he oversaw the upgrading of the Rio Grande City post |
|
|
office, the initiation of city mail delivery and of rural delivery |
|
|
to the whole of the county, and the expansion of the post office |
|
|
staff from 4 to 15 employees; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, After his retirement from the postal service, |
|
|
Mr. Perez owned and operated El Bremo Ranch in La Gloria until 1989; |
|
|
he also continued to serve the public, winning election to several |
|
|
terms as a member of the Starr County Memorial Hospital Board of |
|
|
Directors; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, A man of deep faith, Mr. Perez gave generously of his |
|
|
time and talents to the Knights of Columbus, which he joined in |
|
|
1935; in addition to his extensive involvement in his local |
|
|
council, he held a number of statewide offices and led the Texas |
|
|
organization as state deputy from 1971 to 1973; he was also a |
|
|
charter member of El Cid Caravan No. 106 of the International Order |
|
|
of Alhambra and the caravan's first Grand Commander; moreover, he |
|
|
belonged to the Dine and Dance Club, Rotary Club, Disabled American |
|
|
Veterans, and American Legion; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Lino Perez married the love of his life, Dora Garza, |
|
|
on March 1, 1937, and the couple enjoyed a rewarding union until his |
|
|
passing; over the years, they became the proud parents of a |
|
|
daughter, Rebecca, and three sons, Lino, Ricardo, and Carlos, and |
|
|
they rejoiced as their family grew to include grandchildren and |
|
|
great-grandchildren; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Held in high esteem throughout his community, Lino |
|
|
Perez could take pride in a long record of constructive endeavor, |
|
|
and those who were privileged to share in the warmth of his love and |
|
|
affection will forever hold him close in their hearts; now, |
|
|
therefore, be it |
|
|
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas |
|
|
Legislature, 1st Called Session, hereby join the family of Lino |
|
|
Perez, Jr., in paying tribute to the life of this esteemed Texan; |
|
|
and, be it further |
|
|
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
|
|
prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of |
|
|
Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Lino |
|
|
Perez, Jr. |