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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, A full and generous life drew to a close with the |
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passing of Martin Henry Garza Sr. of San Antonio on August 15, 2025, |
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at the age of 84; and |
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WHEREAS, The son of Efrain Garza Sr. and Emma Vasquez Garza, |
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Martin Garza was born in San Antonio on October 21, 1940; he grew up |
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on the Westside with four siblings, Efrain, Mary Alice, Emma, and |
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Christine; he began working at the family business, Garza's Service |
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Station & Garage, at an early age; as quarterback for the Fox Tech |
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High School football team, he was named to the All-District and |
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All-City teams before graduating in 1959; that same year, he was |
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recognized by the San Antonio Express-News for saving a young girl |
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from drowning; an alumnus of St. Mary's University, he went on to |
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earn a master's degree in social work from Our Lady of the Lake |
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University; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Garza dedicated his career to helping others; he |
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served as program director of the San Antonio Neighborhood Youth |
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Organization before being hired by the U.S. Department of Labor; |
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subsequently, he was employed at the House of Neighborly Service, |
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and in 1971, he began his tenure with MHMR's drug dependence |
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program; he advanced rapidly to executive roles, including chief of |
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narcotic addiction and rehabilitation, director of intake and |
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outpatient services, and, ultimately, director of the drug |
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dependence program; the San Antonio Express-News wrote about his |
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outstanding contributions in 1990; and |
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WHEREAS, Following his retirement in 1995, Mr. Garza enjoyed |
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restoring vintage cars, as well as fishing, painting his home, and |
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cheering for high school sports; above all else, he was devoted to |
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his family; he wed Evangelina "Eva" Lopez in 1966, and they raised |
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their two sons, Martin and Edward, to follow their example of |
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service; after the passing of his first wife, Mr. Garza was |
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fortunate enough to find love again with the former Mary Esther |
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Hernandez, and their marriage brought him two stepdaughters, |
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Marissa and Melissa; and |
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WHEREAS, Martin Garza set an inspiring example through his |
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leadership and compassion, and he will be remembered with deep |
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admiration by all who knew him; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas |
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Legislature, 2nd Called Session, hereby pay tribute to the life of |
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Martin Henry Garza Sr. and extend sincere sympathy to the members of |
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his family: to his wife, Mary Esther Garza; to his sons, Martin |
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Garza Jr. and his wife, Charlene, and Edward Garza and his wife, |
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Anna Laura; to his stepdaughters, Marissa Guerra and her husband, |
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Orlando, and Melissa Rosales and her husband, Michael; to his |
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sisters, Emma, Mary Alice, and Christine Garza; to his |
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grandchildren, Elizabeth, Trey, Lily, and Noel Garza; and to his |
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many other relatives and friends; and, 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 Martin |
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Garza. |