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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Residents of Mission lost an admired civic leader |
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and a friend to many with the passing of Benjamin Cavazos on |
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March 8, 2025, at the age of 94; and |
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WHEREAS, The son of Poulina Sepulveda, Ben Cavazos was born |
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in Sharyland on May 5, 1930; he graduated from Sharyland High School |
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and received specialized training in the U.S. Army; after working |
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for Cameron Electric in McAllen, he cofounded Mission Auto |
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Electric, and he soon bought out his partner; the company |
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flourished, becoming MAE Power Equipment on its 50th anniversary in |
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2004; over the years, Mr. Cavazos mentored countless employees, as |
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well as customers who started lawn care businesses, and he was |
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founder and charter president of the Texas Service Dealers |
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Organization; and |
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WHEREAS, In 1965, Mr. Cavazos joined the Mission Chamber of |
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Commerce, and today, MAE Power Equipment is its longest-tenured |
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member; he was also a founder of the Citrus Cavaliers, who served as |
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city ambassadors with the chamber; during more than a half century |
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with the Mission Kiwanis Club, he was its announcer for the Texas |
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Citrus Fiesta Parade and served several terms as president; in |
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addition, he was a member of the Mission Jaycees, and he served on |
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the Mission hospital board for almost two decades; as a parishioner |
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of Saint Paul Catholic Church, he was active in the Cursillo |
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Movement and the men's group; he received myriad accolades for his |
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contributions, including selection as the 1980 City of Mission Man |
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of the Year, as the 1984 Mr. Mission, and as the 2019 Business |
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Leader of the Year by the Greater Mission Chamber of Commerce; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Cavazos and his first wife, Margarita Cuevas, |
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became the proud parents of three children, Benjamin, Joe, and |
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Teresa; following the amicable end of their union, he was fortunate |
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enough to find love a second time, and he married Rita Cavazos in |
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1968; they were blessed with two children, Martha and Oscar; |
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Mr. Cavazos loved family road trips and always brought home |
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wonderful stories, and he considered any occasion a good reason for |
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a party; and |
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WHEREAS, Ben Cavazos gave freely of his time and talents to |
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benefit his community, and although he is deeply missed by those he |
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has left behind, they will forever treasure their memories of his |
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wisdom, kindness, and geniality; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Benjamin Cavazos and |
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extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to his |
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children, Benjamin Lee Cavazos, Joe Hector Cavazos, Teresa |
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Bourbois, Martha Claudia Cavazos Fipps, and Oscar Antonio Cavazos, |
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and their spouses; to his 12 grandchildren and 13 |
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great-grandchildren; and to his other relatives and friends; 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 Ben |
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Cavazos. |