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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The 92nd birthday of an esteemed Texan is truly |
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cause for celebration, and Dr. Joseph Ernest Torres of El Paso |
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reached that impressive milestone on April 11, 2015; and |
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WHEREAS, Born in El Paso in 1923, Dr. Torres graduated from |
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El Paso High School in 1941 and attended the Texas College of Mines |
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and Metallurgy before going to work as a recruiting agent with |
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Southern Pacific Railroad and as a trainee marine machinist in |
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Oakland, California; and |
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WHEREAS, Dr. Torres answered his nation's call to duty during |
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World War II and served as an infantryman in the United States Army |
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and as a B-17 bombardier and navigator in the U.S. Army Air Forces; |
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he flew 13 combat missions over Germany, and after the war, he |
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served in the reserves at the rank of lieutenant until 1947; and |
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WHEREAS, Following his military service, Dr. Torres resumed |
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his education at the College of Mines and Metallurgy, receiving his |
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bachelor's degree in 1948, and he went on to earn his dental degree |
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at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska, in 1952; in the late |
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1950s, he returned to the Air Force Dental Reserves, attaining the |
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rank of colonel; and |
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WHEREAS, Dr. Torres has been in private practice as a dental |
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surgeon in El Paso for many years, and he continues to work today; a |
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leader in his profession, he has served as chair of the El Paso |
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District Dental Society and the West Texas Dental Society and as an |
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advisor to the El Paso Community College Dental Assistants Training |
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program; and |
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WHEREAS, This caring and energetic gentleman has also devoted |
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much of his time and energy to giving back to his community, serving |
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on the board of St. Margaret's Children's Home and as a member of |
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the Knights of Columbus and the Kiwanis Club; and |
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WHEREAS, Dr. Torres has remained proud of his military |
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service, and he is an honorary member of the 82nd Airborne |
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Association, which presented him with a Certificate of Appreciation |
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for Meritorious and Exemplary Performance in Support of |
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International Freedom and Peace; a cofounder of the Legacy of Valor |
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organization and a leader in the effort to create a Vietnam Veterans |
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memorial in El Paso, he has also served as vice commander of the |
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Paso del Norte chapter of the American GI Forum; and |
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WHEREAS, For more than nine decades, Dr. Joseph Torres has |
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lived an exemplary life dedicated to the service of his nation and |
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his community, and he is a source of inspiration and wisdom to all |
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those who are privileged to know him; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas |
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Legislature hereby congratulate Dr. Joseph Ernest Torres on his |
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92nd birthday and extend to him sincere best wishes for continued |
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success and happiness; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Dr. Torres as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives. |
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Blanco |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 2542 was adopted by the House on May |
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21, 2015, by a non-record vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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