SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 488
 
 
  In Memory
  of
  Oscar Soliz
 
         WHEREAS, Nueces County lost an admired public servant with
  the passing of retired district clerk Oscar Soliz of Corpus
  Christi on December 15, 2014, at the age of 80; and
         WHEREAS, Born in Corpus Christi on March 8, 1934, Oscar
  Soliz was the son of Joe A. Soliz and Anita Gonzales Soliz; he
  excelled in both football and baseball as a high school student
  at Corpus Christi College-Academy; subsequently, he attended
  Texas Christian University on a football scholarship before
  completing bachelor's degrees in political science and law
  enforcement at Texas A&M University--Corpus Christi; and
         WHEREAS, Mr. Soliz married his high school sweetheart, Ola
  Mae Trammell, in 1954; devoted to his family, he took great pride
  in his children, Joseph, Jesse, Jackie, and Jennifer, and
  steadfastly encouraged them to pursue their dreams; and
         WHEREAS, After working alongside his father for a number of
  years at the S and G Sales auto dealership, Mr. Soliz was elected
  Nueces County district clerk in 1970, becoming one of the first
  Latinos to win a countywide race in the area; his outstanding
  service in office spanned 32 years, and during that time, he not
  only excelled in fulfilling the duties of his position but also
  promoted good governance by taking on a range of additional
  responsibilities; he was appointed by Governor Preston Smith to
  the Criminal Justice Council and the Criminal Justice Board, and
  he represented Texas district clerks on task forces dealing with
  a host of issues, including child support enforcement and
  information technology; and
         WHEREAS, This dynamic leader was the longest-serving
  member of the National Association of County Officials Board, and
  for more than a quarter of a century, he was a member of the
  boards of the Texas Association of Counties and the Texas
  Association of Regional Councils; in addition, he served as chair
  of the Coastal Bend Council of Governments and as president of
  the National Association of Regional Councils, the National
  Association of Hispanic County Officials, and the National
  Association of County Recorders, Election Officials and Clerks;
  highly respected by his peers, he was the recipient of a long list
  of prestigious accolades from national and state professional
  organizations; and
         WHEREAS, In addition to his other achievements, Mr. Soliz
  held leadership positions in such organizations as the Boy Scouts
  of America, the National Conference of Christians and Jews, and
  the United Way of the Coastal Bend; he belonged to Saint John the
  Baptist Catholic Church and was active in the Knights of Columbus
  and the International Order of Alhambra; an enthusiastic
  political activist, he supported Democratic candidates at the
  local, state, and national levels, served on the Democratic
  National Committee, and was a super delegate at a number of the
  party's national conventions; moreover, he was elected by the
  Area Council on Aging to represent the Coastal Bend Region in the
  Texas Silver-Haired Legislature; and
 
         WHEREAS, A warmhearted, humble, and engaging man, Oscar
  Soliz is deeply missed by his family, friends, and colleagues,
  but they will continue to find inspiration in the outstanding
  contributions he made to his community and state; now, therefore,
  be it
         RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 84th
  Legislature, hereby pay tribute to the life of Oscar Soliz and
  extend sincere condolences to the members of his family:  his
  wife of 60 years, Ola Mae Soliz; his sons, Joseph Soliz and his
  wife, Juanita, and Jesse Soliz and his wife, Judy Pokorny; his
  daughters, Jackie Soliz-Chapa and her husband, Mario Chapa, and
  Jennifer Soliz; his grandchildren, Lauren and Michael Soliz; and
  his other relatives and many friends; and, be it further
         RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for
  his family as an expression of deepest sympathy from the Texas
  Senate and that when the Senate adjourns this day, it do so in
  memory of Oscar Soliz.
 
  Hinojosa
   
   
   
    ________________________________ 
        President of the Senate
     
        I hereby certify that the
    above Resolution was adopted by
    the Senate on April 7, 2015, by a
    rising vote.
   
   
   
    ________________________________ 
        Secretary of the Senate
   
   
   
    ________________________________ 
         Member, Texas Senate