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SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 11
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In Memory |
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of |
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The Honorable Mario V. Gallegos, Jr. |
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WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas joins Texans |
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across the state in grieving the untimely loss of Senator Mario |
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V. Gallegos, Jr., who died October 16, 2012, at the age of 62; and |
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WHEREAS, Born September 8, 1950, Mario Gallegos was a |
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lifelong Houstonian; he grew up in the Magnolia Park community in |
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the East End and graduated from Milby High School; he later |
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returned to school and earned a degree from the University of |
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Houston in 2001; and |
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WHEREAS, He joined the Houston Fire Department at the age |
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of 18 and served the people of Houston with distinction for 22 |
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years as a firefighter, rising to the rank of senior captain; |
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during those years, he developed an abiding interest in politics |
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and played an important role in articulating and promoting the |
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needs of the state's firefighters and other emergency responders |
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through his union work at the State Capitol; and |
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WHEREAS, He began his legislative career as a member of the |
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in 1990; during his two terms in the House, he began the work that |
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would make him a longtime champion for the working class citizens |
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of Texas, concentrating on such issues as health care and public |
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education; and |
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WHEREAS, |
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WHEREAS, Senator Gallegos was a staunch advocate for |
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senior citizens and defended Medicaid funding for residents in |
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long-term care facilities; he was also responsive to the need for |
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economic opportunities in his district and led the way in the |
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creation of the municipal management districts that revitalized |
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communities in Houston and served as a model for other Texas |
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cities; and |
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WHEREAS, In 2007, Senator Gallegos again displayed the |
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courage and principled determination that were the hallmarks of |
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his legislative career; only weeks after undergoing a liver |
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transplant, and against the orders of his doctor, he returned to |
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the Senate so that he would be able to cast his vote against voter |
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identification legislation; his was the deciding vote in |
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preventing the passage of the bill; and |
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WHEREAS, Senator Gallegos received numerous awards over |
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the course of his illustrious career, including the |
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Distinguished Legislative Service Award from the Texas Municipal |
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League, the Good Guy Award from the Texas Women's Political |
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Caucus, and Legislator of the Year from the Mexican American Bar |
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Association; he was recognized by the Texas State Association of |
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Firefighters and the Combined Law Enforcement Associations of |
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Texas for his passage of public safety legislation; and |
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WHEREAS, In recognition of his legacy of public service, |
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Senator Gallegos lay in state in the Senate chamber so that |
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citizens could pay their respects to the man who had dedicated |
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himself to making Texas a more generous, just, and honorable |
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state; and |
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WHEREAS, A man of wisdom, strength, and integrity, Senator |
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Gallegos gave voice to the aspirations and dreams of countless |
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Texans, and his hard work and diligence served as a constant |
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inspiration to his fellow legislators; and |
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WHEREAS, |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 83rd |
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Legislature, hereby extend sincere condolences to the bereaved |
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family of Senator Mario V. Gallegos, Jr.; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for |
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his family as an expression of profound sympathy from the Texas |
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Senate, and that when the Senate adjourns this day, it do so in |
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grateful and loving memory of Mario Gallegos. |
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Whitmire |
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| Birdwell |
Hancock |
Rodriguez |
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| Campbell |
Hegar |
Schwertner |
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| Duncan |
Nelson |
Van de Putte |
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Dewhurst, President of the Senate |
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________________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
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I hereby certify that the |
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above Resolution was adopted by |
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the Senate on January 15, 2013, by |
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a rising vote. |
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________________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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________________________________ |
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Dean of the Senate |
