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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Memories of a life filled with joyful times and |
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meaningful accomplishments remain to comfort the family and friends |
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of Elmo López Sr. of Laredo, who passed away on March 15, 2021, at |
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the age of 93; and |
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WHEREAS, Elmo López was born in Rio Grande City on October 7, |
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1927, to Jose Maria López and Maria Piña López, and he grew up on El |
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Rucio Ranch in Starr County with the companionship of seven |
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siblings, Ofelia, Josefina, Maria, Alonso, Jose Maria, Humberto, |
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and Ruben; and |
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WHEREAS, Inspired by the big bands of his youth, Mr. López |
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started his own ensemble, Elmo López and his Orchestra, to help put |
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himself through The University of Texas at Austin, where he earned |
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bachelor's and master's degrees in music; he was the first band |
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director of Lamar Junior High School, and during his decade-long |
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tenure at Martin High School, he brought the first University |
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Interscholastic League Sweepstakes Competition to Laredo in 1956; |
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he went on to serve as band director of Nixon High School, and in |
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1967, he opened the first music store in Laredo specializing in band |
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instruments; in later years, he came out of retirement to serve as |
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the inaugural director of bands of Texas A&M International |
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University; and |
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WHEREAS, In addition to his career as a music educator, |
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Mr. López devoted himself to his family's cattle ranch, often |
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traveling to livestock auctions; a true servant leader, he was a |
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passionate advocate for education, raising scholarship money for |
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Laredo students to attend The University of Texas; in 1987, he |
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founded the Laredo chapter of the Texas Exes alumni association, |
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and he held a seat on the board of the UT Dad's Association for 12 |
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years, serving for a time as president; his many honors include an |
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honorary doctorate from TAMIU, and in 1963, the noted composer and |
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UT music professor James Clifton Williams dedicated a work, the |
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"Laredo Paso Doble," to Mr. López; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. López enjoyed the love and support of his wife, |
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Consuelo Flores López, with whom he shared a rewarding marriage |
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that spanned 65 years; he proudly lined the walls of his ranch house |
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with photos of his family, which grew to include 5 children, Elmo, |
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Linda, Cristina, Jose Humberto, and the late Ana Laura López, 11 |
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grandchildren, Veronica, Amanda, Elmo Daniel, Andrew, Alexandra, |
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Cristian, Diego, Andrea, Leopoldo Humberto, Ana Victoria, and Laura |
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Cecilia, and 2 great-grandchildren, Viviana and Jorge; and |
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WHEREAS, Elmo López was a pillar of his community, a loving |
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family man, and a gifted educator who brought out the best in all |
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who knew him, and they will forever remember the positive influence |
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he had on their lives; 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 Elmo López Sr. and |
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extend sincere sympathy to all who mourn his passing; and, be it |
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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 Elmo López |
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Sr. |