| |
| |
|
|
R E S O L U T I O N
|
|
|
WHEREAS, The life of a Texas football legend drew to a close |
|
|
with the passing of René Javier Ramirez of McAllen on June 20, 2023, |
|
|
at the age of 85; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Born on July 11, 1937, in Hebbronville, René Ramirez |
|
|
was the son of Dora and Tomas Ramirez and grew up with the |
|
|
companionship of three brothers, Hector, Tomas, and Gregorio; he |
|
|
first gained acclaim at Hebbronville High School, where he |
|
|
graduated as valedictorian and lettered in football, baseball, |
|
|
basketball, band, and track and field; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Mr. Ramirez went on to attend The University of |
|
|
Texas at Austin and earn a bachelor's degree in mechanical |
|
|
engineering; nicknamed the Galloping Gaucho for his tremendous |
|
|
speed as a runner, he was a standout halfback on the Longhorn |
|
|
football team, leading the team in touchdowns in 1957 and tying for |
|
|
the lead in 1958; during his three seasons on the gridiron, he was a |
|
|
gifted two-way player and recorded four interceptions, and in 1959, |
|
|
he was an All-Southwest Conference selection; among his many |
|
|
accolades, he is a member of the Hebbronville High School Hall of |
|
|
Fame, the Latin American International Sports Hall of Fame, the |
|
|
National Hispanic Sports Hall of Fame, and the Rusk Athletic Club |
|
|
Hall of Fame in Houston, and in 2013, he was inducted into the Texas |
|
|
Athletics Hall of Honor; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Following his collegiate football career, |
|
|
Mr. Ramirez found success selling insurance with American |
|
|
Amicable, working as an engineer for Mobil Oil, and owning several |
|
|
businesses; in August 2013, he retired from the Texas General Land |
|
|
Office as an appraiser; in addition, he founded the René Ramirez |
|
|
Youth Development Camp to help underprivileged children in East |
|
|
Austin, and he gave motivational speeches at schools; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Mr. Ramirez shared 28 years with his first wife, the |
|
|
former Jo Marie Hill; fortunate to find love again, he wed Becky |
|
|
Ramirez, and the couple enjoyed 34 years together; he took great |
|
|
pride in his 9 children, Teresa, Eric, Celeste, Alan, Rene, Carlos, |
|
|
Jo Rikki, Adrian, and Emmanuel, and with the passing years, his |
|
|
family grew to include 11 grandchildren, Rene Elic, Riana, Roxanne, |
|
|
Miranda, Andres, Gabrielle, Mariana, Alan, Xavier, Eliamar, and |
|
|
Ezra, and 10 great-grandchildren, Mia, Beau, Gael, Atlas, Whitt, |
|
|
Ava, Mila, Ocean, Luka, and Britten; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, An engaged citizen, a devoted family man, and a |
|
|
consummate Longhorn, René Ramirez leaves behind a legacy that will |
|
|
long be remembered by all those who knew and loved him; now, |
|
|
therefore, be it |
|
|
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas |
|
|
Legislature, 3rd Called Session, hereby pay tribute to the life of |
|
|
René Javier Ramirez and extend sincere condolences to his loved |
|
|
ones; and, be it further |
|
|
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
|
|
prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of |
|
|
Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of René |
|
|
Ramirez. |
| |
|
|
Guillen |
|
|
|
|
|
______________________________ |
|
|
Speaker of the House |
| |
|
|
I certify that H.R. No. 129 was unanimously adopted by a |
|
|
rising vote of the House on November 1, 2023. |
|
|
|
|
|
______________________________ |
|
|
Chief Clerk of the House |
| |