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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, A life devoted to the service of his nation drew to a |
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close with the death of U.S. Navy Captain (Ret.) Frank Montesano of |
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Corpus Christi on April 13, 2018, at the age of 68; and |
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WHEREAS, "Rocco" Montesano was born in Passaic, New Jersey, |
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on July 27, 1949, to Ann and Rocco Montesano, and he grew up in |
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Hackensack; in 1971, he graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy at |
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Annapolis, and he later earned a master's degree from St. Mary's |
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University; and |
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WHEREAS, Over the course of his distinguished 27-year career |
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as a U.S. Navy pilot, Captain Montesano accumulated more than 5,500 |
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flight hours and served in the Mediterranean, the Indian Ocean, the |
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North Atlantic, and the Arabian Sea; during Operation Desert Storm, |
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he commanded A-6 Squadron VA-176, winning three consecutive "Battle |
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E" awards; he went on to work in the Office of the Chief of Naval |
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Operations at the Pentagon, command Naval Air Station Corpus |
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Christi, and serve as manpower director for the Chief of Naval Air |
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Training until his retirement in 1998; his decorations included two |
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Legion of Merit Medals, two Meritorious Service Medals, the Navy |
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and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, and the Navy and Marine Corps |
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Achievement Medal; and |
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WHEREAS, Captain Montesano served for a decade as executive |
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director of the USS Lexington Museum in Corpus Christi; under his |
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leadership, this legendary World War II aircraft carrier has become |
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one of the most popular tourist destinations in the region, drawing |
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more than 300,000 visitors a year; he also gave back to his |
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community through his participation with the Corpus Christi |
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Mustangs, the Corpus Christi Housing Authority, and the Rotary |
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Club; and |
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WHEREAS, Captain Montesano shared 46 years with his wife, |
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Joanne, and he was a loving father to his children, Michael |
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Montesano and Cariann Galloway, and a doting grandfather to Kyleigh |
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and Kase Galloway; he enjoyed playing golf and basketball, and he |
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delighted in the time he spent in his garden; and |
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WHEREAS, A devoted family man and a proud veteran, Rocco |
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Montesano served with honor, courage, and dedication, and his |
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memory will be forever cherished by all those who were privileged to |
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know him; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 86th Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Captain Frank "Rocco" |
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Montesano and extend heartfelt sympathy to his relatives and many |
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friends; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of |
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Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Captain |
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Frank Montesano. |