Bill Text: TX HCR15 | 2011 | 82nd Legislature 1st Special | Introduced
NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
Bill Title: In memory of Pete A. Gallego, Jr., of Alpine.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 6-0)
Status: (Passed) 2011-07-19 - Signed by the Governor [HCR15 Detail]
Download: Texas-2011-HCR15-Introduced.html
Bill Title: In memory of Pete A. Gallego, Jr., of Alpine.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 6-0)
Status: (Passed) 2011-07-19 - Signed by the Governor [HCR15 Detail]
Download: Texas-2011-HCR15-Introduced.html
82S10442 BPG-D | ||
By: Coleman | H.C.R. No. 15 |
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WHEREAS, A full and productive life drew to a close with the | ||
passing of esteemed civic leader Pete Almodova Gallego, Jr., of | ||
Alpine on March 4, 2010, at the age of 85; and | ||
WHEREAS, Born in Alpine on February 17, 1925, Mr. Gallego was | ||
the son of Pete Russell Gallego and Victoria Almodova; he came of | ||
age during World War II and served in the United States Army in the | ||
Pacific theater, and he earned the Victory and American Theater | ||
ribbons, a Good Conduct Medal, and a Bronze Star, among other | ||
honors; during his freshman year at Sul Ross State University, he | ||
met Elena Peña, and the couple married the following year; they | ||
later became the parents of four treasured children, Imelda, | ||
Rebecca, Pete, and Robert; and | ||
WHEREAS, The first member of his family to graduate from | ||
college, Mr. Gallego earned his bachelor's degree in business | ||
administration; he joined the family restaurant business, then | ||
known as the Green Cafe, and began serving his community in a | ||
variety of leadership roles; helping Latinos gain access to banking | ||
services, he shared his accounting skills with a credit union | ||
established by a local Catholic priest; he became the first | ||
treasurer of Our Lady of Peace Credit Union, which operated for many | ||
years from the dining room table in his home and then from his cafe | ||
so members could stop by in the evening after their work; he later | ||
served as president, chair, and member of the board as the credit | ||
union grew to become the Alpine Community Credit Union, an | ||
institution with more than $10 million in assets; and | ||
WHEREAS, This dynamic Texan became the first Latino trustee | ||
of the Alpine Independent School District in 1959 and was elected to | ||
four more consecutive three-year terms; he played a key role in the | ||
desegregation of area schools and in the construction of a new high | ||
school, the addition of a wing to Central Elementary School, the | ||
remodeling of the old high school into a united junior high, and the | ||
closure of Centennial School; although some customers boycotted his | ||
restaurant to protest integration, Mr. Gallego remained steadfast; | ||
the school closure and the construction of a new interstate also | ||
affected the business, and he moved it across town, becoming the | ||
first Latino to own commercial property on Holland Avenue; and | ||
WHEREAS, Gallego's Mexican Food Restaurant won a loyal | ||
following among college students in its new location, and | ||
Mr. Gallego expanded its operations, shipping chiles rellenos, | ||
tamales, and masa to stores around the state; through the years, he | ||
helped many young people achieve their dreams by giving them jobs | ||
and donating money for their college funds; in 2001, four years | ||
after his retirement, he was named Paul Forcheimer Business Person | ||
of the Year in recognition of his exceptional contributions to the | ||
community; he continued to volunteer for worthy causes and enjoyed | ||
spending time with his family, maintaining his properties, and | ||
riding his mowing tractor; and | ||
WHEREAS, A man of great generosity, integrity, and | ||
determination, Pete A. Gallego is deeply missed by the host of | ||
people whose lives he touched, but his legacy of achievement | ||
continues to resonate in the community he loved and served so well; | ||
now, therefore, be it | ||
RESOLVED, That the 82nd Legislature of the State of Texas, | ||
1st Called Session, hereby pay tribute to the memory of Pete | ||
Almodova Gallego and extend sincere sympathy to his loved ones: to | ||
his wife of more than six decades, Elena Peña Gallego; to his | ||
daughters, Imelda Gallego Garcia and her husband, Jose Garcia, | ||
R.Ph., and Rebecca P. Gallego, M.D.; to his son, the Honorable Pete | ||
P. Gallego, and his wife, Maria Elena Ramon; to his grandchildren, | ||
Maria Imelda, Maria Elena, and Briana Garcia, Cristina P. Gallego, | ||
and Nicolas Miguel Ramon Gallego; and to his other relatives and | ||
many friends; 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 and Senate adjourn this day, they do so in memory of | ||
Pete A. Gallego, Jr. |