TITLE: Honoring José H. Villarreal for his professional and civic achievements.

SUMMARY: Honoring José H. Villarreal for his professional and civic achievements.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, The State of Texas draws immeasurable strength from individuals such as Jos  H. Villarreal, who has distinguished himself in the course of his exemplary career; and WHEREAS, A native of East Chicago, Indiana, Mr. Villarreal began his career as a civil rights lawyer in Texas, and in 1988, he became state assistant attorney general; he went on to hold senior positions in the presidential campaigns for Bill Clinton, who also appointed him associate director of the White House Office of Presidential Personnel during his administration; in the early 1990s, he joined the law firm McGinnis, Lochridge & Kilgore, and by the end of the decade, he had become a partner at Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, specializing in public law, policy, and finance; since his retirement in 2020, he has continued to serve Akin Gump as a consultant; along the way, he has remained highly involved in politics, playing an instrumental role in the presidential campaigns for Al Gore, Hillary Clinton, and Barack Obama; in 2010, he was appointed U.S. commissioner general to the Shanghai World Expo, and he was awarded the rank of ambassador by President Obama; and WHEREAS, Mr. Villarreal has served on the boards of numerous organizations, including the KIPP Foundation, the Center for American Progress, the Cisneros Center for New Americans, the U.S.-Mexico Foundation, Teach for America, Leadership for Educational Equity, Close Up Foundation, and Fannie Mae; he has also chaired the boards of the National Council of La Raza and the New America Alliance, and he has helped to guide the board of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute as vice chair; previously, he was active on the boards of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., and Union Pacific; and WHEREAS, Among his many honors, Mr. Villarreal was included in the 2025 class of inductees to the San Antonio Aviation and Aerospace Hall of Fame, and in 2015, he received the Order of the Aztec Eagle, the most prestigious decoration awarded by the Mexican government; in addition, Purdue University presented him with a Distinguished Alumni award in 2011, and the Indiana University Maurer School of Law honored him as a member of its Academy of Law Alumni Fellows in 2001; he holds a bachelor's degree in political science from Purdue and a juris doctor degree from the IU School of Law; and WHEREAS, An esteemed legal professional and an engaged citizen, Jos  Villarreal has earned the respect and admiration of innumerable people, and he may reflect with pride on his myriad contributions; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas Legislature hereby commend Jos  H. Villarreal for his professional and civic achievements and extend to him sincere best wishes for continued success; and, be it further RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for Mr. Villarreal as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. Martinez Fischer Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 1127 was adopted by the House on June 1, 2025, by a non-record vote. Chief Clerk of the House