| |
|
|
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 67
|
| |
| |
|
|
In Memory |
|
|
of |
|
|
Jose Maria Longoria Sr. |
| |
|
|
WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas honors and |
|
|
commemorates the memory of Jose Maria Longoria Sr., a |
|
|
distinguished leader whose lifelong dedication to public service |
|
|
has left a lasting impact on Starr County and beyond; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Born June 20, 1906, Jose Maria Longoria was reared |
|
|
in the small town of La Grulla, and he attended La Grulla School |
|
|
before transferring to San Diego High School in Duval County, |
|
|
where he graduated as salutatorian of his class; he also |
|
|
graduated with honors from the Texas College of Arts and |
|
|
Industries and soon after began teaching Spanish there, and in |
|
|
1949, he went on to earn a law degree from La Salle Extension |
|
|
University; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Answering the call of duty, Mr. Longoria enlisted |
|
|
in the United States Armed Forces during World War II and became |
|
|
an Army instructor in 1944, and upon his return home, he taught in |
|
|
public schools before pursuing many other professional |
|
|
endeavors; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Mr. Longoria held roles as an editor for the Starr |
|
|
County Democrat and as the owner and manager of Valley |
|
|
Distributing Company for more than 35 years; his notable |
|
|
dedication to public service was evidenced by his election as |
|
|
Starr County Commissioner, a position he held from 1949 to 1972, |
|
|
and by his service as an interim county judge in Starr County; as |
|
|
a county official, he welcomed President Dwight D. Eisenhower and |
|
|
Mexican President Adolfo Ruiz Cortines to Starr County for the |
|
|
dedication of Falcon Dam in 1953; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, A tireless advocate for education, he served as a |
|
|
school board member and successfully persuaded oil companies to |
|
|
pay their fair share of taxes, which resulted in the funding and |
|
|
construction of two much-needed schools; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, His many contributions were recognized with |
|
|
prestigious accolades as well as in numerous publications, and he |
|
|
was honored for his work as a member of the International |
|
|
Platform Association and the National Historical Society; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Through his military service, his leadership in |
|
|
local government, and his commitment to public education, Mr. |
|
|
Longoria made a profound and enduring impact in his community and |
|
|
state, and his legacy will continue to inspire future generations |
|
|
who follow in his footsteps; now, therefore, be it |
|
|
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 89th |
|
|
Legislature, hereby pay tribute to the memory of Jose Maria |
|
|
Longoria Sr.; and, be it further |
|
|
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for |
|
|
his family and that when the legislature adjourns this day, it do |
|
|
so in memory of Jose Maria Longoria Sr. |
| |
|
|
Zaffirini |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
________________________________ |
|
|
|
President of the Senate |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I hereby certify that the |
|
|
|
above Resolution was adopted by |
|
|
|
the Senate on March 11, 2025, by a |
|
|
|
rising vote. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
________________________________ |
|
|
|
Secretary of the Senate |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
________________________________ |
|
|
|
Member, Texas Senate |