H.R. No. 573

R E S O L U T I O N

WHEREAS, The citizens of Amarillo lost one of their most esteemed community leaders with the death of Monsignor Joseph Tash on May 21, 2012, at the age of 77; and

WHEREAS, Born to Edward and Anna Corey Tash on March 2, 1935, in Barre, Vermont, Joseph Tash graduated from Spaulding High School and attended St. Michael's College in Colchester, Vermont; he obtained a degree in philosophy from St. John's Seminary in Brighton, Massachusetts, and completed additional postgraduate work in theology at SS. Cyril and Methodius Seminary in Orchard Lake, Michigan; he was ordained to the priesthood in 1962; and

WHEREAS, Father Tash traveled to Amarillo and served as an assistant pastor at St. Mary's Church from 1962 to 1967; because of his Lebanese heritage and familiarity with the unique traditions of the Maronite Rite, he was called to assist the St. Louis Gonzaga Maronite Catholic Church in Utica, New York, for a year but returned to Amarillo in 1968; and

WHEREAS, On his return to the Amarillo diocese, Father Tash was assigned to serve as chaplain, director of pastoral care, and director of mission and ministry at St. Anthony's Hospital; in 1980, he became responsible for the hospital's planning and development; over the course of his 25-year tenure with St. Anthony's, he co-chaired the medical ethics committee, served on the administrative council, and acted as director of community relations; he was also instrumental in both the fund-raising efforts for the St. Anthony's Foundation and the establishment of St. Anthony's Hospice; and

WHEREAS, During that same period, Father Tash was involved in the establishment of St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church and served as its founding pastor when it opened in 1982; he was named a Prelate of Honor to His Holiness by Pope John Paul II in 1986 and thereafter served his congregation as Monsignor Tash; and

WHEREAS, In addition to his service at the church and hospital, Monsignor Tash was involved in numerous charitable organizations and local causes; enthusiastic about preaching against the societal dangers of drug use, he helped organize Operation Drug Alert and organized Kairos House for rehabilitation; he served two terms as the campaign chair of the United Way of Amarillo & Canyon and was a chair of the March of Dimes; he also served on the boards of the Ronald McDonald House, Catholic Family Service, the Downtown Women's Center, the Amarillo Kidney Foundation, the Amarillo Heart Association, and the Amarillo Symphony; and

WHEREAS, Monsignor Tash enjoyed such pastimes as golf, bowling, cooking, and needlepoint; he taught his mother's Lebanese recipes in a class at Amarillo College, and his Christmas needlework was well known around the parish; and

WHEREAS, A man of generosity, energy, and great faith, Monsignor Joseph Tash made a positive difference in the lives of many, and his work will be remembered and admired for years to come; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Monsignor Joseph Tash and extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to his brothers, Nathan Tash and Francis Tash and his wife, Irene; to his sister, Barbara Tash Callahan; to his nephews, Michael Callahan, Patrick Callahan and his wife, Joyce, Edward Tash, and Francis "Buddy" Tash; to his nieces, Emily Callahan, Donna Tash, and Susan Tash; and to his friends and congregants; 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 Monsignor Joseph Tash.

Price

______________________________ Speaker of the House

I certify that H.R. No. 573 was unanimously adopted by a rising vote of the House on March 7, 2013.

______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House