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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The tenure of an esteemed public official will draw |
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to a close when the Honorable Leopoldo Palacios Jr. concludes his |
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service as the mayor of Pharr in May 2015; and |
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WHEREAS, A native of Pharr, "Polo" Palacios graduated from |
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Pharr-San Juan-Alamo High School in 1952 and subsequently served |
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this state and nation for four years as a member of the United |
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States Air Force; he later attended Texas A&I University and went on |
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to graduate with a degree in social work from The University of |
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Texas--Pan American; and |
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WHEREAS, After being employed in insurance sales for many |
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years, Mr. Palacios started working in the financial industry, and |
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in 1965, he established a loan company in McAllen; in 1981, he once |
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again changed career paths to become a drug and alcohol abuse |
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counselor, and he went on to found Palacios Alcohol Drug Education |
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and Counseling Services, where he has positively impacted countless |
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lives through the decades; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Palacios entered politics in 1985 with his |
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appointment as city commissioner, and he was subsequently returned |
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to that office time and again by local voters; over the course of |
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his 17-year tenure in that post, he ably served his constituency, |
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and he recalls as one of his proudest achievements providing more |
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than 20,000 new residents with clean water, sewerage services, |
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streets, and electricity after the annexation of the Las Milpas |
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area by the city; and |
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WHEREAS, In 2002, Mr. Palacios was elected mayor of Pharr, |
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and under his guidance, the city has received a host of accolades |
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for its dedication to historic preservation, economic development, |
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and civic excellence; it was designated as both a Preserve America |
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Community and a Texas Main Street City in 2004, and it received a |
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2006 All-America City Award from the National Civic League; |
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moreover, Mayor Palacios was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Honor |
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in 2009 by the Pharr Chamber of Commerce in recognition of his |
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outstanding contributions to his community; and |
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WHEREAS, In addition to his mayoral duties, Polo Palacios has |
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served as a member of the Pharr-Reynosa International Bridge Board, |
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the Hidalgo County Metropolitan Planning Organization, the Lower |
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Rio Grande Valley Development Council, American Legion Post |
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No. 101, the United States Conference of Mayors, and Disabled |
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American Veterans; at the statewide level, he was appointed to the |
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Texas Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner by Governor Mark White |
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and, at the national level, to the Military Academy Selection |
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Committee by U.S. Senator John Cornyn; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Palacios is blessed in all his endeavors by the |
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love and support of his wife, the former Maria Guadalupe Ramos, with |
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whom he has shared a rewarding union of nearly six decades; he also |
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takes tremendous pride in his treasured family that includes 6 |
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children, 18 grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren; buoyed by a |
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strong faith as well, he and his wife are valued, longtime |
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congregants of St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church, where he serves |
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as a Eucharistic minister; and |
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WHEREAS, Greatly respected for his commitment to his fellow |
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citizens, Polo Palacios has devoted three decades of his life to |
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public service, and his myriad efforts in behalf of the city of |
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Pharr will be remembered and admired for years to come; 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 commend the Honorable Leopoldo "Polo" Palacios |
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Jr. for his service as mayor of Pharr and extend to him sincere best |
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wishes for continued success and fulfillment; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Mayor Palacios as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |