|
|
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 283
|
|
|
|
In Memory |
|
of |
|
Philip Martinez |
|
|
WHEREAS, The passing of esteemed U.S. District Judge |
|
Philip Ray Martinez of El Paso on February 26, 2021, at the age of |
|
63, concluded a life devoted to the cause of justice; and |
|
WHEREAS, The son of Phil Martinez Sr. and Evangelina |
|
Martinez, Phil Martinez was born in El Paso on July 13, 1957; he |
|
grew up with the companionship of four siblings, Richard, Roger, |
|
Patrick, and Rebecca, and attended Burges High School; after |
|
earning a bachelor's degree in political science with high honors |
|
from The University of Texas at El Paso, he went on to graduate |
|
from Harvard Law School; and |
|
WHEREAS, Mr. Martinez began his career in public service |
|
in 1990, when he was elected judge of El Paso County Court at Law |
|
No. 1; the following year, he became judge for the 327th District |
|
Court; his appointment to the U.S. District Court for the Western |
|
District of Texas was confirmed in 2002, and over the years, he |
|
served the judiciary in a host of leadership roles at the local, |
|
state, and national level; he was appointed by Chief Justice John |
|
Roberts to the Court Administration and Case Management |
|
Committee for the Judicial Conference of the United States, the |
|
policy-making body of the federal courts, and he was a member of |
|
the Executive Committee of the Federal Judges Association; and |
|
WHEREAS, Dedicated to his alma mater, Judge Martinez |
|
co-chaired the UTEP Centennial Commission and established a |
|
scholarship for UTEP undergraduates; he also interviewed |
|
aspiring Harvard students and mentored many young people; a man |
|
of faith, he prayed the rosary and played the piano at |
|
St. Patrick Cathedral every morning, and he served as director |
|
and co-chair of the National Conference of Christians and Jews |
|
and as director of the El Paso Holocaust Museum; in all his |
|
endeavors, he was supported by the love and encouragement of his |
|
wife of 36 years, Mayela Del Carmen Martinez, and he took great |
|
pride in his daughters, Jaclyn and Lauren, and his grandson, |
|
Robert; he was a caring uncle and godfather as well; and |
|
WHEREAS, The Honorable Philip Martinez was a jurist of |
|
tremendous intellect and integrity, and although he will be |
|
deeply missed, those who were privileged to know him will |
|
treasure their memories of his thoughtful, gentle ways and kind |
|
smile; now, therefore, be it |
|
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 87th |
|
Legislature, hereby pay tribute to the life of the Honorable |
|
Philip Ray Martinez and extend sincere condolences to all who |
|
mourn his passing; and, be it further |
|
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this Resolution be |
|
prepared for his family and that when the Texas Senate adjourns |
|
this day, it do so in memory of Philip Martinez. |
|
|
Blanco |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
________________________________ |
|
|
President of the Senate |
|
|
|
|
|
I hereby certify that the |
|
|
above Resolution was adopted by |
|
|
the Senate on April 26, 2021, by a |
|
|
rising vote. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
________________________________ |
|
|
Secretary of the Senate |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
________________________________ |
|
|
Member, Texas Senate |