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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, A full and generous life drew to a close with the |
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passing of Rafael Hernandez of San Antonio on February 25, 2011, at |
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the age of 83; and |
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WHEREAS, "Ralph" Hernandez was born in San Antonio on August |
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5, 1927, to Arturo and Lucila Hernandez; after graduating from |
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Brackenridge High School in 1945, he answered his nation's call to |
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duty by enlisting in the U.S. Navy; following his military service, |
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Mr. Hernandez worked as a butcher and a grocer; and |
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WHEREAS, In 1963, he and his wife, Lili Hernandez, opened the |
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Little Red Barn Steakhouse in a converted meat market; Mr. |
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Hernandez painted the building himself and built eight picnic |
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tables that could seat 32 patrons; in the early years of the |
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restaurant, he served as both butcher and cook, while Mrs. |
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Hernandez doubled as waitress and cashier; their daughters, Sandra, |
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Nancy, and Marissa, pitched in on the weekends; and |
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WHEREAS, The steakhouse was a hit and grew in size and |
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popularity over the years; now capable of seating 800 diners at a |
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time, this Western-themed restaurant has become a community |
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institution and a favorite of San Antonio politicians and |
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businesspeople; Mr. Hernandez was known affectionately as "Don |
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Rafael" or "Mr. H" to his patrons and to his employees, some of whom |
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had worked for him for decades; despite the ill health he |
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experienced at the end of his life, he worked until only a few days |
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before his death; and |
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WHEREAS, Ralph Hernandez took great enjoyment in his family |
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and his wide circle of friends, and he was a devoted fan of mariachi |
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music; his gregarious nature and positive outlook were an |
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inspiration to all who knew him, and his legacy of hard work and |
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concern for others will be remembered and appreciated long into the |
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future; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Rafael Hernandez and |
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extend sincere condolences to the members of his family: to his |
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wife, Idilia; to his daughters, Sandra Gonzalez Yedor and her |
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husband, Jonathan, Nancy Hernandez, and Marissa Garcia and her |
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husband, Enrique Tomas; to his grandchildren, Marissa Garcia and |
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Enrique Tomas Garcia, Jr.; to his sisters, Rachel Hahn and Rebecca |
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Trevino and her husband, Gene; and to his other relatives and |
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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 Ralph |
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Hernandez. |