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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Residents of El Paso are mourning the loss of |
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admired U.S. District Judge Philip R. Martinez, who passed away on |
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February 26, 2021, at the age of 63; and |
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WHEREAS, Philip Ray Martinez was born in El Paso on July 13, |
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1957, to Phil and Evangelina Martinez, and he grew up with four |
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siblings, Richard, Roger, Patrick, and Rebecca; after graduating |
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from Burges High School, Mr. Martinez earned his bachelor's degree |
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in political science from The University of Texas at El Paso, and he |
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went on to earn his law degree from Harvard Law School in 1982; he |
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worked in private practice until 1990, when he embarked upon an |
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outstanding career as a county, state, and federal jurist that |
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spanned three decades; and |
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WHEREAS, After winning election to El Paso County Court at |
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Law No. 1 in 1990, Mr. Martinez was elected judge of the El Paso |
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County 327th District Court in 1991 and remained in that seat until |
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2001, when he was nominated by President George W. Bush to the U.S. |
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District Court for the Western District of Texas; he was confirmed |
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by the U.S. Senate in February 2002 and served as a federal judge |
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until his death; over the course of his long and impressive tenure |
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on the bench, he oversaw many important cases, including trials |
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involving murder, public corruption, and drug and sex trafficking, |
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and he was recognized with numerous awards and honors; and |
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WHEREAS, Devoted to his beloved El Paso and a strong advocate |
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for education, Judge Martinez established a scholarship for UTEP |
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undergraduates and helped interview applicants for Harvard Law |
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School; a man of strong religious faith, he attended St. Patrick |
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Cathedral every morning to pray the rosary and play the piano; and |
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WHEREAS, Phil Martinez shared his life for 36 years with his |
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wife, Mayela Del Carmen Martinez, and he was the proud father of two |
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daughters, Jaclyn and Lauren; he was later blessed with a grandson, |
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Robert, and he was also close to his many nieces, nephews, and |
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godchildren; and |
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WHEREAS, Although his death has brought profound sorrow to |
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those who were privileged to know him, the Honorable Philip |
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Martinez leaves behind a legacy of integrity, generosity, and a |
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passion for justice that will remain a lasting source of |
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inspiration; now, 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 U.S. District Judge |
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Philip R. Martinez and extend heartfelt sympathy to his family and |
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many 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 Philip |
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Martinez. |