Bill Text: TX HR686 | 2021-2022 | 87th Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: In memory of Elmo López Sr. of Laredo.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)
Status: (Passed) 2021-04-27 - Reported enrolled [HR686 Detail]
Download: Texas-2021-HR686-Enrolled.html
| H.R. No. 686 | ||
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| WHEREAS, Memories of a life filled with joyful times and | ||
| meaningful accomplishments remain to comfort the family and friends | ||
| of Elmo López Sr. of Laredo, who passed away on March 15, 2021, at | ||
| the age of 93; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Elmo López was born in Rio Grande City on October 7, | ||
| 1927, to Jose Maria López and Maria Piña López, and he grew up on El | ||
| Rucio Ranch in Starr County with the companionship of seven | ||
| siblings, Ofelia, Josefina, Maria, Alonso, Jose Maria, Humberto, | ||
| and Ruben; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Inspired by the big bands of his youth, Mr. López | ||
| started his own ensemble, Elmo López and his Orchestra, to help put | ||
| himself through The University of Texas at Austin, where he earned | ||
| bachelor's and master's degrees in music; he was the first band | ||
| director of Lamar Junior High School, and during his decade-long | ||
| tenure at Martin High School, he brought the first University | ||
| Interscholastic League Sweepstakes Competition to Laredo in 1956; | ||
| he went on to serve as band director of Nixon High School, and in | ||
| 1967, he opened the first music store in Laredo specializing in band | ||
| instruments; in later years, he came out of retirement to serve as | ||
| the inaugural director of bands of Texas A&M International | ||
| University; and | ||
| WHEREAS, In addition to his career as a music educator, | ||
| Mr. López devoted himself to his family's cattle ranch, often | ||
| traveling to livestock auctions; a true servant leader, he was a | ||
| passionate advocate for education, raising scholarship money for | ||
| Laredo students to attend The University of Texas; in 1987, he | ||
| founded the Laredo chapter of the Texas Exes alumni association, | ||
| and he held a seat on the board of the UT Dad's Association for 12 | ||
| years, serving for a time as president; his many honors include an | ||
| honorary doctorate from TAMIU, and in 1963, the noted composer and | ||
| UT music professor James Clifton Williams dedicated a work, the | ||
| "Laredo Paso Doble," to Mr. López; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Mr. López enjoyed the love and support of his wife, | ||
| Consuelo Flores López, with whom he shared a rewarding marriage | ||
| that spanned 65 years; he proudly lined the walls of his ranch house | ||
| with photos of his family, which grew to include 5 children, Elmo, | ||
| Linda, Cristina, Jose Humberto, and the late Ana Laura López, 11 | ||
| grandchildren, Veronica, Amanda, Elmo Daniel, Andrew, Alexandra, | ||
| Cristian, Diego, Andrea, Leopoldo Humberto, Ana Victoria, and Laura | ||
| Cecilia, and 2 great-grandchildren, Viviana and Jorge; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Elmo López was a pillar of his community, a loving | ||
| family man, and a gifted educator who brought out the best in all | ||
| who knew him, and they will forever remember the positive influence | ||
| he had on their lives; now, therefore, be it | ||
| RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas | ||
| Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Elmo López Sr. and | ||
| extend sincere sympathy to all who mourn his passing; 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 Elmo López | ||
| Sr. | ||
| Raymond | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Speaker of the House | ||
| I certify that H.R. No. 686 was unanimously adopted by a | ||
| rising vote of the House on April 23, 2021. | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Chief Clerk of the House | ||
