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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Rene J. Gonzalez of Rio Grande City passed away on |
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May 20, 2008, at the age of 86, leaving his loved ones to reflect on |
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his life of honorable service to his country and community; and |
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WHEREAS, Born on August 13, 1921, on the San Pedro Ranch in |
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Jim Hogg County, Rene Gonzalez was the son of Abelardo and Olivia |
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Hinojosa Gonzalez, and he grew up with the company of his brother, |
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Gilberto, and four cousins, Rebecca, Sonny, Maria, and Rafael; |
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Mr. Gonzalez enlisted in the United States Army during World War II |
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and was assigned to the 56th Evacuation Hospital, a mobile medical |
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unit; he was deployed overseas for more than 30 months, during which |
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time he served at numerous locations in North Africa and Italy; |
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among the awards and decorations he received were the |
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European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with four Bronze |
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Stars, the Good Conduct Medal, and five Overseas Bars; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Gonzalez continued his military career as a |
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member of the United States Army Reserve from 1958 to 1981, and he |
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retired as a first sergeant in the reserves and as a civilian aide |
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in the U.S. Army; in his civilian career, he worked for the Starr |
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Produce Company and for the Community Action Corporation of South |
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Texas; he was active in the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Knights of |
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Columbus, the Woodmen of the World fraternal organization, and Los |
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Mutualistas, holding a number of leadership positions in each |
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organization; and |
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WHEREAS, In all his endeavors, Mr. Gonzalez enjoyed the |
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support of his loving wife, Tomasita Alaniz Gonzalez; he was |
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blessed with five children, Rene, Maria, Jorge, Olivia, and Sandra, |
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and 11 grandchildren, Aisha, Virginia, Jason, Christina, Rene, |
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Stacy, Victor, Cory, Alexandra, Evan, and John; and |
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WHEREAS, A devoted family man, a proud veteran, and a pillar |
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of his community, Rene Gonzalez left behind a legacy that will long |
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be treasured by all who held him dear; 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 life of Rene J. Gonzalez; and, |
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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 Rene |
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Gonzalez. |