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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, A life dedicated to the law and the service of others |
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drew to a close with the death of Richard Covarubio Abalos of Odessa |
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on December 12, 2020, at the age of 77; and |
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WHEREAS, Born in Rankin to Angela and Lasaro Abalos on July 4, |
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1943, Richard Abalos grew up with 14 siblings, Paul, Basilio, |
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Eustolia, Frank, Lasaro, Rosendo, George, Jesse, Johnny, Selso, |
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Lupe, Linda, Martha, and Victoria; he learned the value of hard work |
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at an early age, laboring with his family in the cotton and onion |
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fields of West Texas, and in junior high school, he started his own |
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business filling out tax forms; his skill as a Golden Gloves boxer |
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led him to find a job in the office of attorney Warren Burnett, who |
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helped him enroll in The University of Texas and St. Mary's |
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University School of Law; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Abalos served in the U.S. Army during the |
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Vietnam War with the Judge Advocate General's Corps at Fort Rucker, |
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Alabama, where he bunked with future vice president Al Gore; |
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returning to civilian life, he joined Mr. Burnett's law firm as one |
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of the first Mexican American lawyers in Odessa, and he went on to |
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enjoy a legal career that spanned nearly half a century, starting |
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his own law firm and winning a reputation as a skilled and |
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determined advocate for his clients; and |
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WHEREAS, Throughout his life, Mr. Abalos participated in the |
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Democratic Party on the state and local levels, and as a proud |
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Mexican American, he was active with the League of United Latin |
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American Citizens and Hispanic Heritage; moreover, he was a |
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founding member of the Club Los Dorados riding club; he was the |
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recipient of many accolades, including the Community Statesman |
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Award from the Heritage of Odessa Foundation and the Odessa |
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American; in his leisure time, he delighted in riding horses, |
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sharing happy hour with his fellow attorneys, rooting for the |
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Dallas Cowboys, collecting coins, bird-watching, and playing |
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chess, tennis, and poker; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Abalos was a loving and supportive husband to |
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Delma, his wife of 42 years, and he took great pride in his three |
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children, Angel, Feliz, and Andrea, and his two grandchildren, Noah |
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and Lyndon; he was also a loving brother and uncle, and a true and |
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loyal friend, generously sharing his time and resources with anyone |
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in need; and |
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WHEREAS, A devoted family man, a respected attorney, and an |
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engaged member of his community, Richard Abalos leaves behind a |
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record of service that his loved ones can remember with pride; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Richard Covarubio |
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Abalos and extend heartfelt sympathy to his family 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 Richard |
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Abalos. |