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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The Honorable John David Franz has been named a 2015 |
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Pillar of Success by The University of Texas--Pan American Alumni |
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Association; and |
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WHEREAS, Each year the UTPA Alumni Association celebrates a |
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select group of distinguished alumni for their professional |
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excellence and for their service to the community and their alma |
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mater; and |
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WHEREAS, After graduating from McAllen High School, |
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Mr. Franz enrolled at UTPA, where he earned a bachelor's degree in |
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political science in 1981; while pursuing his undergraduate |
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studies, he was appointed to the post of municipal court judge in |
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Hidalgo, an office he assumed a the age of 18; Mr. Franz went on to |
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attend The University of Texas School of Law and attained his doctor |
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of jurisprudence degree in 1984; he became a board certified |
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personal injury trial lawyer in 1989, and that same year, he opened |
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a law practice in McAllen; and |
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WHEREAS, John David Franz was elected mayor of Hidalgo in |
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1990, and he served in that office for 22 uninterrupted years; over |
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the course of his tenure, the city saw a number of significant |
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improvements, such as the construction of the State Farm Arena in |
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2003, and received many honors, including being named an |
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All-America City in 2004; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Franz has also provided valued leadership to |
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many civic organizations, among them the Hidalgo Economic |
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Development Corporation, which he served for 22 years as a |
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director, the Lower Rio Grande Valley Development Council, which he |
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served for 15 years as president, and the Texas Border Coalition, |
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which he also served as president; in recognition of his myriad |
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contributions to the development of his region, John David Franz |
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was named Border Texan of the Year in 2009; and |
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WHEREAS, This esteemed gentleman has rendered further public |
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service as a member the Texas Criminal Justice Board, to which he |
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was appointed by Governor George W. Bush in 1995; during his term on |
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the board, he played an instrumental role in laying the foundation |
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for the modernization of the system's aging physical plant; and |
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WHEREAS, In all his endeavors, Mr. Franz enjoys the love and |
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support of his wife, Annette Diaz, and his children, John and |
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Steven; and |
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WHEREAS, Benefiting from the solid educational foundation |
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that he received at UTPA, John David Franz has made lasting |
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contributions to his community and to the State of Texas, and he is |
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indeed a worthy recipient of this prestigious award; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas |
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Legislature hereby congratulate the Honorable John David Franz on |
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his selection as a 2015 Pillar of Success by The University of |
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Texas--Pan American Alumni Association and extend to him sincere |
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best wishes for the future; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Mr. Franz as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives. |