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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Memories of a life filled with joyful times and |
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meaningful accomplishments may comfort the family and friends of |
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Benigno "Benny" Layton of Elsa, who passed away on March 26, 2011, |
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at the age of 60; and |
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WHEREAS, A native of Port Lavaca, Benny was one of five |
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children born to Pablo and Santos Layton; by the age of six, he was |
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already playing the accordion and performing alongside his brothers |
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at birthday parties, baptisms, and other events, and this passion |
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for music would continue throughout his life; and |
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WHEREAS, Benny graduated from Edcouch-Elsa High School in |
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1969 and then enrolled at The University of Texas--Pan American, |
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but he interrupted his studies in 1970 to enlist in the United |
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States Army; he began his career in the Edcouch-Elsa Independent |
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School District in 1981 as an elementary school music teacher, and |
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two years later he became the founder and director of the |
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Estudiantina program, which focuses on the cultural aspects of |
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music from the Rio Grande Valley; students in his program have |
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performed at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, BorderFest, and |
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various events at The University of Texas--Pan American, as well as |
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for the Al Gore presidential campaign; and |
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WHEREAS, An innovative educator, Benny created the only |
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approved curriculum in Texas for teaching conjunto, and he was |
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inducted into the Texas Conjunto Music Hall of Fame in San Benito in |
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2008; he began serving as the public address announcer for the |
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Edcouch-Elsa High School football team, the Yellowjackets, in 1987 |
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and became known as "La Voz of La Maquina Amarilla" for his |
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dedication to the team, the school, and the greater community; and |
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WHEREAS, After retiring from Edcouch-Elsa ISD in 2009, Benny |
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went on to work for the Roland Corporation, which manufactures and |
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distributes electronic musical instruments; in addition, he served |
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as an Elsa municipal court judge; and |
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WHEREAS, In all of his endeavors, Benny enjoyed the love and |
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support of his wife, Irma, and he took great pride in his family, |
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which included four children and seven grandchildren; and |
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WHEREAS, More than 1,500 people gathered to honor Benny at |
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his memorial service, a true testament to the many lives that this |
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beloved Texan forever enriched with his love of music, his |
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commitment to young people, and his devotion to his community; now, |
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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 memory of Benigno "Benny" |
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Layton and extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to |
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his wife, Irma Vera Layton; to his children, Janice Layton |
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Rodriguez and her husband, Israel, Benigno Layton, Jr., and his |
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wife, Esther, Paul Anthony Layton, Sr., and Armando Rene Layton; to |
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his mother, Santos Villarreal Layton; to his brothers, Antonio and |
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Rene Layton; to his sister, Norfilia Layton Gonzalez; to his |
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grandchildren, Benigno Layton III, Robert Aaron Layton, Ayleen |
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Celest Rodriguez, Israel Rodriguez, Jr., Joleen Jaselle Rodriguez, |
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Paul Anthony Layton, Jr., and Leilani Mikayla Layton; and to his |
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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 this day, it do so in memory of Benny |
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Layton. |