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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Paul J. Strelzin passed away on April 27, 2013, at |
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the age of 75, leaving the city of El Paso to mourn a local icon who |
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distinguished himself in a range of endeavors; and |
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WHEREAS, A native of Brooklyn, New York, Mr. Strelzin served |
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his country as a member of the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment of the |
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U.S. Army; after moving to El Paso in 1967, he began working as a |
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teacher and coach in the El Paso Independent School District, and he |
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went on to serve as the principal of H. E. Charles Middle School, |
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Lincoln Middle School, and Bowie High School; in addition to his |
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commitment to preparing students for the future, he was a vocal |
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supporter of Hispanic civil and educational rights; during his |
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tenure at Bowie, he spoke out against injustices he saw that he felt |
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routinely targeted Hispanic students; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Strelzin was an avid sports enthusiast who was |
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hired as the public address announcer for The University of Texas at |
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El Paso track team not long after his arrival in the city; in 1969, |
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he became the voice of the Miner football and basketball teams as |
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well, and over the course of nearly two decades, he became a beloved |
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figure among UTEP fans; he was famous for his ability to electrify |
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crowds with his boisterous cheers and jokes, particularly his |
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trademark shout of "MMMMMMinerball!" at the basketball games; known |
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by his nicknames "The Strelz" and "The Mouth," he later became the |
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announcer for the city's professional baseball, hockey, and soccer |
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teams; in recognition of his central role in local sports, he was |
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inducted into the El Paso Athletic Hall of Fame in 2009; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Strelzin furthered his stature as a media |
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personality through his work at several El Paso radio stations, |
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including KROD, where he offered pointed commentary on current |
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issues on his Back Talk program from 1999 to 2009; and |
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WHEREAS, Away from the microphone, he was a loving husband, |
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father, grandfather, and friend; he shared a rewarding marriage of |
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44 years with his wife, Darlyne, and he took great pride in his |
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children and grandchildren; and |
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WHEREAS, An integral part of the El Paso community for more |
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than four decades, Paul Strelzin enriched countless lives through |
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his work as an educator, sports announcer, and radio host, and his |
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contributions will be fondly remembered by area residents for many |
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years to come; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Paul J. Strelzin and |
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extend deepest condolences to the members of his family: to his |
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wife, Darlyne Strelzin; to his daughters, Sandra Strelzin Lewis and |
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her husband, Tommy, Sara McCleskey and her husband, Chad, and Laura |
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Strelzin; to his grandchildren, Ryan Lewis, Natalie Lewis, Grant |
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McCleskey, and Kinley McCleskey; to his sisters, Lynn Strelzin |
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Pollock, Janice Vanderputten, and Adrienne Hermann; to his brother, |
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Raymond Erlichman; to his children from his previous marriage, |
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Jeffery Strelzin and his wife, Andrea, and Jennifer Strelzin Frost |
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and her husband, Bill, and their children, Spencer and Paige Frost; |
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and to his other relatives and many 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 Paul |
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Strelzin. |