| |
| |
|
|
R E S O L U T I O N
|
|
|
WHEREAS, Manuel P. Guillen, a lifelong resident of Rio Grande |
|
|
City who passed away on December 19, 2002, at the age of 85, |
|
|
rendered notable service to the people of Starr County; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Born on November 27, 1917, Mr. Guillen was the first |
|
|
in his family to graduate from Rio Grande City High School; |
|
|
afterward, during the Great Depression, he joined the Civilian |
|
|
Conservation Corps and worked on CCC projects across the country; |
|
|
and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Shortly after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, |
|
|
Mr. Guillen and his brother, Mario, enlisted in the armed forces; |
|
|
while Mario Guillen served in Europe, Mr. Guillen was deployed to |
|
|
the Pacific, where he participated in retaking a number of |
|
|
strategic islands; following the surrender of Japan in September |
|
|
1945, he was stationed on one of the inner Japanese islands, and |
|
|
during that time he came to develop a deep respect for the Japanese |
|
|
people; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, When Manuel and Mario Guillen resumed civilian life, |
|
|
they embarked together on a cattle enterprise, founding the Guillen |
|
|
Brothers Ranch in Starr County; initially, they leased land for |
|
|
their operation, but as time went by, they were able to purchase one |
|
|
parcel after another and establish their own holdings; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, In addition to sharing in the operation of the |
|
|
ranch, Mr. Guillen worked for a number of years at First State Bank |
|
|
of Rio Grande City; after his retirement from that institution, he |
|
|
joined the board of directors of Citizens State Bank in Roma; |
|
|
altogether, he spent more than four decades in the banking |
|
|
industry, stepping down from his post as a director only when |
|
|
illness intervened; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Mr. Guillen also served on the board of directors of |
|
|
the Medina Electric Cooperative, where his business acumen was a |
|
|
valued asset; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, In all that he undertook, Mr. Guillen endeavored to |
|
|
do the responsible thing; devoted to his faith, he gave generously |
|
|
of his time and talents to the Knights of Columbus; he served for |
|
|
many years as the local council's financial officer, and he |
|
|
especially enjoyed the projects that the organization carried out |
|
|
in support of Immaculate Conception School in Rio Grande City; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Manuel Guillen's life was rich in purpose and |
|
|
accomplishments, and he could take pride in his many contributions |
|
|
to the continuing development of his community; now, therefore, be |
|
|
it |
|
|
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas |
|
|
Legislature, 1st Called Session, hereby pay tribute to the memory |
|
|
of Manuel P. Guillen; 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 Manuel |
|
|
P. Guillen. |