Bill Text: TX HR686 | 2019-2020 | 86th Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: In memory of former La Joya mayor William Leo.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)
Status: (Passed) 2019-03-22 - Reported enrolled [HR686 Detail]
Download: Texas-2019-HR686-Enrolled.html
| H.R. No. 686 | ||
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| WHEREAS, The people of South Texas have lost an esteemed | ||
| civic leader with the death of former La Joya mayor William Leo on | ||
| March 17, 2018, at the age of 70; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Billy Leo was born in Laredo on May 24, 1947, to | ||
| Feliz Leo and Leo James Leo, a prominent regional leader who marched | ||
| with Cesar Chavez and who served as mayor of La Joya; after earning | ||
| a political science degree at Texas A&I University in Kingsville, | ||
| Billy Leo enjoyed a successful career in the private sector with a | ||
| chain of convenience stores known as Leo's Food Mart; while | ||
| managing the family business, he also forged his own outstanding | ||
| record of civic engagement and activism; elected to the La Joya | ||
| school board while still in his 20s, he served from 1974 to 1981 and | ||
| was board president for two terms; he then served as mayor of La | ||
| Joya from 1981 to 1986 and as Hidalgo County clerk from 1986 to | ||
| 1994; elected mayor again in 2003, he continued to serve in that | ||
| post until 2011; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Known as "Mr. Democrat," Mr. Leo held local party | ||
| meetings at his La Joya store and drew state and national leaders to | ||
| the area, including Robert Kennedy Jr., Bill Clinton, and his close | ||
| friend Ann Richards; he was a member of the Democratic National | ||
| Committee from 1989 to 2000 and served as a delegate to several | ||
| Democratic National Conventions; in addition, he was active in the | ||
| Mexican-American Democrats, and he led MAD in the 27th Senatorial | ||
| District as president; deeply engaged in his community, he was a | ||
| founder and president of the La Joya Lions Club, a member of the | ||
| Housing Authority of the County of Hidalgo, and a gubernatorial | ||
| appointee to the Texas-Mexico Authority and the State Community | ||
| Development Block Grant program; and | ||
| WHEREAS, A beloved role model and mentor to the next | ||
| generation of leaders in the Rio Grande Valley, Billy Leo dedicated | ||
| his life to fighting for his community and his political ideals, and | ||
| he leaves behind a legacy that will continue to inspire all those | ||
| who knew and loved him; now, therefore, be it | ||
| RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 86th Texas | ||
| Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of William Leo and | ||
| extend sincere condolences to the members of his family: to his | ||
| wife, Dr. Filomena Leo; to his children, Noralisa Leo and her | ||
| husband, Eduardo Herranz, Michael Leo, Lita Leo, Billy Leo Jr. and | ||
| his wife, Anne, and Letty Leo; to his five grandchildren; to his | ||
| siblings, James Leo and his wife, Lydia, Henry Leo, Leo J. Leo Jr. | ||
| and his wife, Martha, and Nellie Leo; 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 adjourns this day, it do so in memory of William | ||
| Leo. | ||
| Longoria | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Speaker of the House | ||
| I certify that H.R. No. 686 was unanimously adopted by a | ||
| rising vote of the House on March 21, 2019. | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Chief Clerk of the House | ||
