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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The Honorable Richard C. Vara retired as Harris |
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County justice of the peace for Precinct 6, Place 1, on December 31, |
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2020, drawing to a close an outstanding career that spanned more |
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than four and a half decades; and |
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WHEREAS, A native of Houston, Richard Vara became engaged |
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with politics and public service at an early age, and he helped his |
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father campaign for John F. Kennedy; after graduating from Stephen |
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F. Austin High School, he earned his bachelor's degree in business |
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administration at the University of Houston, where he was active |
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with the Young Democrats, and he went on to attend the South Texas |
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College of Law; in 1972, he was the assistant treasurer of the |
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Harris County Democratic Party and a coordinator for the Southwest |
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Voter Registration Education Project, and the following year, he |
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was the Hispanic area coordinator for the mayoral campaign of Fred |
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Hofheinz; and |
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WHEREAS, First elected as Precinct 6, Place 1 justice of the |
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peace in June 1974, Judge Vara was the youngest person at the time |
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to ever be elected to the position; over the course of his exemplary |
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46-year tenure on the bench, he has been reelected many times, and |
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he has sponsored such innovative programs as Teen Courts, literacy |
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initiatives, and volunteer programs for retired and senior |
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citizens; and |
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WHEREAS, In addition to his professional responsibilities, |
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Judge Vara has been active as a founding member of the Chicano |
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Family Center, the Denver Harbor Senior Citizens, the SFA Alumni |
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Organization, and the Felix and Angela Morales Memorial Foundation, |
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and he has served on the boards of the Boy Scouts of America, the |
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Mexican American Bar Association, the Fifth Ward Community |
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Redevelopment Corporation, the Cossaboom YMCA, and many other |
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organizations; and |
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WHEREAS, In all his endeavors, Judge Vara has enjoyed the |
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love and support of his children, Ericka Gonzalez, Lenzy Chapa, and |
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Anthony Vara; and |
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WHEREAS, Richard Vara's dedication, integrity, and |
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commitment to justice have greatly benefited the residents of |
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Harris County and earned him the respect and admiration of his |
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peers, and he may indeed reflect with pride on a career well spent |
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as he embarks on the next exciting chapter of his life; 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 congratulate the Honorable Richard C. Vara on |
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his retirement as a Harris County justice of the peace and extend to |
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him sincere best wishes for the future; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Judge Vara as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives. |