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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Former Texas State Representative J. A. Garcia |
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Jr. of Raymondville has dedicated much of his life to serving his |
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community and his state, and he is truly deserving of special |
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recognition; and |
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WHEREAS, Joseph Alexander Garcia Jr. was born in Brownsville |
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in 1936 to J. A. and Bertha Garcia; after earning a bachelor's |
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degree from the College of Agriculture at Texas A&I University in |
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1960, he worked for 12 years as the manager of the Garcia Ranch; |
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since 1977, he has been the owner and manager of JASA Ranch LLC; and |
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WHEREAS, In May 1968, Mr. Garcia won a special election to |
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fill the vacant house seat for District 48-F, which encompassed |
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Brooks, Cameron, Kenedy, and Willacy Counties, and voters returned |
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him to office for the 61st and 62nd Legislatures; over the course of |
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his tenure in the house, he served on the Agriculture, Livestock, |
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Liquor Regulation, and State Affairs Committees for multiple |
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sessions and was vice chair of the Claims Committee during the 62nd |
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Regular Session in 1971; his accomplishments included introducing |
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the legislation that created Texas A&I University at Corpus Christi |
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and the bill that created a Texas Parks and Wildlife stamp to better |
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regulate the hunting of the white wing dove; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Garcia concluded his legislative service in |
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1972, the same year he began his work as the chief fiscal officer |
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for Texas A&I University at Corpus Christi, a position he held until |
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1977; in 1983, he became the Kenedy County judge, and he continued |
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to preside over the commissioners court for 27 years before |
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stepping down in 2010; and |
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WHEREAS, This esteemed civic leader has played an integral |
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role in numerous community and business organizations; he was chair |
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of the Willacy County Red Cross and the Kenedy County Democratic |
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Executive Committee, and he held membership on the boards of the |
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Texas A&I University Alumni Association, American Red Cross Coastal |
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Bend Texas, the Raymondville Chamber of Commerce, Harlingen |
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National Bank, and the Willacy County Beef Syndicate; in addition, |
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he was a member of the Matamoros/Brownsville Bi-National Planning |
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Commission and the Housing Commission of the Lower Rio Grande |
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Valley Development Council; since 1996, he has served on the board |
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of the John G. and Marie Stella Kenedy Memorial Foundation, and he |
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has been the foundation's president for the past 18 years; and |
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WHEREAS, In all his endeavors, Mr. Garcia enjoys the love and |
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support of his wife, the former Sue Ann Barr, and his children, |
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J. Alex Garcia III, Felicia Ann Garcia Baldwin, and Sandra Sue |
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Garcia Burns; and |
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WHEREAS, Known affectionately as "Sporty," J. A. Garcia has |
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spent more than a half century working in behalf of his fellow South |
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Texas residents, and he may indeed reflect with pride on his many |
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achievements; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 86th Texas |
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Legislature hereby commend the Honorable J. A. Garcia Jr. for his |
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distinguished record of public service and extend to him sincere |
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best wishes for continued 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 Mr. Garcia as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives. |