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SENATE RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas honors and |
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commemorates the life of Robert Leon Oliver, a cherished member |
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of the Cuero community, who died on June 8, 2025, at the age of |
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75; and |
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WHEREAS, A native Texan, Robert Oliver was born in Refugio |
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on August 8, 1949; beginning from an early age, he developed an |
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interest in his family's heritage and in the history of ranching |
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in Texas while spending summers and holidays at his grandparents' |
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ranch in Cheapside; Robert graduated from Refugio High School and |
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enrolled at The University of Texas at Austin, where he played in |
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the Longhorn Marching Band and was a member of the Acacia |
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Fraternity; and |
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WHEREAS, After earning his bachelor's degree in |
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journalism, Robert moved to Vail, Colorado, where he took a job |
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working at a restaurant to fund his first trip to Europe; this |
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experience instilled in him a great appreciation for travel, |
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architecture, and art, and he cultivated these interests |
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throughout his life and later utilized his knowledge to preserve |
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historic structures and beautify public spaces; he went on to |
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enjoy a successful career in Vail as the owner and president of |
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Plaza Lodge Properties, and he was a founding board member of the |
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Betty Ford Alpine Gardens; and |
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WHEREAS, Robert returned to South Texas in 1995 and became |
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immersed in preserving the area's local heritage and the historic |
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homes and buildings of DeWitt County; he became chairman of the |
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Cuero Heritage Museum, where he curated many exhibits and served |
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for a number of years; in 2000, he led the effort to establish the |
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Chisholm Trail Heritage Museum, an award-winning institution |
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opened in 2013 and featuring the storied ranching history of |
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South Central Texas; Robert's dedication and philanthropy were |
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instrumental in saving many notable historic buildings in Cuero, |
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including the English-German School, which was renamed in his |
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honor and was recognized in 2021 with a Preservation Texas Honor |
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Award; and |
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WHEREAS, A man of kindness, integrity, and generosity, |
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Robert was a visionary community leader and a beloved and |
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respected Cuero resident; his passion for history and the arts |
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and his legacy of historic preservation will continue to enrich |
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the lives of Texans long into the future, and his memory will be |
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forever cherished by his devoted partner, Hebert Rojas-Silva, |
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his dearest nieces and nephews, his many other loving family |
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members, and by the many people who were privileged to know him |
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and to share in his life; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 89th |
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Legislature, 1st Called Session, hereby extend sincere |
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condolences to the bereaved family of Robert Leon Oliver; and, be |
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it further |
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RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for |
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his family as an expression of deepest sympathy from the Texas |
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Senate and that when the Senate adjourns this day, it do so in |
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memory of Robert Oliver. |