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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Locally owned businesses are vital to the economic |
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well-being of Texas communities, and in 2011, the Liberty Cafe is |
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celebrating 30 years of service to the residents of Freer; and |
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WHEREAS, Established in 1981 by Idalia and Benjamin Salinas, |
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the eatery was inspired by one of the same name that Mrs. Salinas's |
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parents owned in Benavides and later in Freer; after that |
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restaurant closed, Mrs. Salinas dreamed of one day opening her own |
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Liberty Cafe; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Salinas worked for the Freer Independent School |
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District, but he wanted to help his wife achieve her dream; he hired |
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a contractor to build the shell of a building, and he and the |
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couple's children worked to finish out the interior; once the |
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restaurant opened, both Mr. and Mrs. Salinas devoted their lives to |
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it, working more than 17 hours a day and often sleeping there on |
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cots; the cafe soon became popular among border patrol agents who |
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worked in the area, and their request for a fresh, not frozen, |
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hamburger patty is what eventually gave rise to the restaurant's |
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most popular item; and |
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WHEREAS, The youngest of their 11 children, Martha "Martie" |
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Salinas Delay, took over the cafe in 1994, when her mother's health |
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began to fail; she has overseen an expansion of the building, |
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including extra dining space and a porch, and she is supported in |
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her efforts by her siblings Carlos, Eddie, and Chris; although Mr. |
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and Mrs. Salinas both passed away in the early 2000s, their memory |
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lives on in the very tangible reminder of their determination, hard |
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work, and accomplishment, and their photos placed at the register |
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are a daily inspiration to their children and grandchildren; and |
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WHEREAS, One of only a few family-owned restaurants in Freer, |
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the Liberty Cafe continues to thrive three decades after it opened, |
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and it is indeed a pleasure to honor the establishment on the |
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occasion of this milestone year; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas |
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Legislature, 1st Called Session, hereby commemorate the 30th |
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anniversary of the Liberty Cafe and extend to Martha Salinas Delay |
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and her siblings and staff sincere best wishes for continued |
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success; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Liberty Cafe as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |
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Guillen |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 119 was adopted by the House on June |
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28, 2011, by a non-record vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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