Bill Text: TX HR142 | 2023 | 88th Legislature 3rd Special Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: In memory of Judge Fortunato Pedro "Pete" Benavides of Austin.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2023-11-07 - Reported enrolled [HR142 Detail]
Download: Texas-2023-HR142-Enrolled.html
| H.R. No. 142 | ||
|
|
||
| WHEREAS, The life of an esteemed jurist drew to a close with | ||
| the passing of the Honorable Fortunato Pedro Benavides of Austin on | ||
| May 5, 2023, at the age of 76; and | ||
| WHEREAS, The son of Adán and Pilar Benavides, "Pete" | ||
| Benavides was born in Mission on February 3, 1947, and he grew up in | ||
| McAllen with the companionship of eight siblings, Tony, Adán, | ||
| Gabriel, Liza, Mary Lou, John Lee, Joe, and Ray; after graduating | ||
| from McAllen Senior High School in 1965, he went on to earn a | ||
| bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of | ||
| Houston as well as a law degree from the UH Law Center; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Mr. Benavides entered private practice as a | ||
| litigator in McAllen, and in 1977, he began a two-year tenure as a | ||
| judge on the Hidalgo County Court at Law; he then returned to | ||
| private practice before winning election to the 92nd District Court | ||
| in Hidalgo County in 1981; three years later, he was appointed to | ||
| the Thirteenth Court of Appeals of Texas by Governor Mark White, and | ||
| he joined the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals after receiving an | ||
| appointment from Governor Ann Richards in 1991; in the subsequent | ||
| years, he presided over numerous Texas state courts, and for a time, | ||
| he was a partner at the Atlas & Hall law firm in McAllen; and | ||
| WHEREAS, In 1994, Judge Benavides was appointed to the | ||
| U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals by President Bill Clinton, and | ||
| he further distinguished himself through his service on the | ||
| judicial council of the Fifth Circuit; he assumed senior status in | ||
| 2012; moreover, he was active in the Judicial Conference of the | ||
| United States, and he was a member of the committees on | ||
| international judicial relations and the administration of the | ||
| bankruptcy system; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Judge Benavides also found time to serve as a member | ||
| of the Texas Juvenile Probation Commission for several years, and | ||
| he established the Ramiro H. Guerra Youth Village, a residential | ||
| facility in Weslaco for juvenile offenders; among his many | ||
| achievements, he was named one of 53 "Faces of Hope" by President | ||
| Bill Clinton in 1993; and | ||
| WHEREAS, In all his endeavors, Judge Benavides enjoyed the | ||
| love and support of his wife, Evelyn; he was the father of three | ||
| children, Amanda, Adelaide, and the late Ramon Joseph Benavides, | ||
| who died in infancy; with the passing years, his treasured family | ||
| grew to include two grandsons, Noah and Milo; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Although Pete Benavides is deeply missed by those he | ||
| left behind, his legacy of service will be remembered and admired | ||
| for years to come; 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 | ||
| Judge Fortunato Pedro "Pete" Benavides and extend heartfelt | ||
| sympathy 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 Judge | ||
| Benavides. | ||
| Guerra | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Speaker of the House | ||
| I certify that H.R. No. 142 was unanimously adopted by a | ||
| rising vote of the House on November 7, 2023. | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Chief Clerk of the House | ||
