84R13489 RMA-D

By: Canales H.R. No. 1264

R E S O L U T I O N

WHEREAS, The tenure of an esteemed public official will draw to a close when the Honorable Leopoldo Palacios Jr. concludes his service as the mayor of Pharr in May 2015; and

WHEREAS, A native of Pharr, "Polo" Palacios graduated from Pharr-San Juan-Alamo High School in 1952 and subsequently served this state and nation for four years as a member of the United States Air Force; he later attended Texas A&I University and went on to graduate with a degree in social work from The University of Texas--Pan American; and

WHEREAS, After being employed in insurance sales for many years, Mr. Palacios started working in the financial industry, and in 1965, he established a loan company in McAllen; in 1981, he once again changed career paths to become a drug and alcohol abuse counselor, and he went on to found Palacios Alcohol Drug Education and Counseling Services, where he has positively impacted countless lives through the decades; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Palacios entered politics in 1985 with his appointment as city commissioner, and he was subsequently returned to that office time and again by local voters; over the course of his 17-year tenure in that post, he ably served his constituency, and he recalls as one of his proudest achievements providing more than 20,000 new residents with clean water, sewerage services, streets, and electricity after the annexation of the Las Milpas area by the city; and

WHEREAS, In 2002, Mr. Palacios was elected mayor of Pharr, and under his guidance, the city has received a host of accolades for its dedication to historic preservation, economic development, and civic excellence; it was designated as both a Preserve America Community and a Texas Main Street City in 2004, and it received a 2006 All-America City Award from the National Civic League; moreover, Mayor Palacios was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Honor in 2009 by the Pharr Chamber of Commerce in recognition of his outstanding contributions to his community; and

WHEREAS, In addition to his mayoral duties, Polo Palacios has served as a member of the Pharr-Reynosa International Bridge Board, the Hidalgo County Metropolitan Planning Organization, the Lower Rio Grande Valley Development Council, American Legion Post No. 101, the United States Conference of Mayors, and Disabled American Veterans; at the statewide level, he was appointed to the Texas Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner by Governor Mark White and, at the national level, to the Military Academy Selection Committee by U.S. Senator John Cornyn; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Palacios is blessed in all his endeavors by the love and support of his wife, the former Maria Guadalupe Ramos, with whom he has shared a rewarding union of nearly six decades; he also takes tremendous pride in his treasured family that includes 6 children, 18 grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren; buoyed by a strong faith as well, he and his wife are valued, longtime congregants of St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church, where he serves as a Eucharistic minister; and

WHEREAS, Greatly respected for his commitment to his fellow citizens, Polo Palacios has devoted three decades of his life to public service, and his myriad efforts in behalf of the city of Pharr will be remembered and admired for years to come; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas Legislature hereby commend the Honorable Leopoldo "Polo" Palacios Jr. for his service as mayor of Pharr and extend to him sincere best wishes for continued success and fulfillment; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for Mayor Palacios as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives.