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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The untimely death of Jaime J. Zapata of Edinburg on |
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December 16, 2010, at the age of 35, brought a great loss to his |
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family, friends, and fellow firefighters; and |
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WHEREAS, A lifelong resident of Edinburg, "Bino" Zapata was |
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the son of Romeo and Carmen Zapata; he graduated from Edinburg High |
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School, where he was the starting linebacker for the Mighty Bobcat |
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football team and a member of the baseball team; in his senior year, |
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he was voted Most Valuable Player on the football team, and he |
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received numerous awards at the sports banquet; and |
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WHEREAS, This civic-minded Texan joined the institutional |
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division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, and he was |
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employed for 13 years as a correctional officer in maximum security |
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at the McConnell Unit and then at the Lopez State Jail; deeply |
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committed to his work, he strove to support the agency's mission to |
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protect the public, promote positive change in offender behavior, |
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help offenders reintegrate into society, and assist victims of |
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crime; Mr. Zapata served as an officer in the Community Service |
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Department, transporting offenders to surrounding communities and |
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providing supervision on projects benefiting public land and |
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buildings; for his contributions to Estero Llano Grande Park, he |
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received accolades from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Dedicated to public safety, Mr. Zapata joined the |
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Edinburg Volunteer Fire Department and served as a lieutenant; he |
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found his true calling and went on to become a full-time firefighter |
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for the City of Mission; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Zapata was a parishioner at Sacred Heart |
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Catholic Church; above all, he was devoted to his wife, Janie, and |
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his five children, Debra, Dalayna, Kylea, Kalea, and Bo; and |
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WHEREAS, Bino Zapata lived a rich and purposeful life |
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centered around his family, his work, and his community, and he will |
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forever hold a special place in the hearts of those who were |
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fortunate enough to know him; 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 memory of Jaime J. "Bino" |
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Zapata and extend sincere condolences to the members of his family: |
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to his wife, Janie Zapata; to his children, Debra Saldana, Dalayna |
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Saldana, Kylea Rae Zapata, Kalea Sue Zapata, and Bo Cambel Zapata; |
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to his parents, Romeo and Carmen Zapata; to his sister, Elizabeth |
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Ann Truszkowski; to his grandmother, Eustolia Zapata; and to his |
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many 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 Bino |
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Zapata. |