TITLE: In memory of Guillermo Evaristo "Memo" Avila of El Paso.

SUMMARY: In memory of Guillermo Evaristo "Memo" Avila of El Paso.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, Family and friends will forever treasure their memories of Guillermo Evaristo Avila of El Paso, who died on February 4, 2017, at the age of 87; and WHEREAS, "Memo" Avila was born in El Paso on November 6, 1929, to Evaristo and Carmen Avila; he began working at the age of 12, as a delivery boy and butcher in his father's grocery store; after graduating as valedictorian from El Paso Technical High School, he attended the Texas College of Mines; from 1948 to 1956, he served his nation as a member of the National Guard; and WHEREAS, Mr. Avila was joined in matrimony to Isabel Lightbourn in 1953, and they shared their lives for more than 63 years; he was the proud father of four children, Bill, Andy, Annette, and Amanda, and later in life, he was blessed with six grandchildren, James, Thomas, Kristina, Roldan, Anthony, and Lucas; and WHEREAS, In 1952, Mr. Avila bought one of the popular Leo's Mexican Restaurant locations from his uncles, Leo Collins and Willie Terrazas, and he taught himself to cook while his father ran the dining room; they moved the restaurant to the Coronado Shopping Center in 1962, and a decade later, Mr. Avila built his own restaurant on North Mesa Street, changing the name from Leo's to Avila's in 1988 and opening another location on the east side of El Paso; the Mesa Street location is still thriving under the direction of his children Andy and Annette; and WHEREAS, Mr. Avila also owned a self-storage business, an apartment building, a trailer park, a chili-processing business, and other enterprises; he served as president of the El Paso Restaurant Association and as a board member of Pan American Savings and Loan, the American Heart Association, the Greater El Paso Chamber of Commerce, and the El Paso Community Foundation, among others; he was inducted into the Texas Restaurant Association's Hall of Honor and named Outstanding Restaurateur of the Year in 1980; and WHEREAS, A founding member of the Santa Teresa Country Club, Mr. Avila was an avid golfer for nearly four decades, playing until he was 80 years old; he expressed his strong religious faith by regularly attending St. Matthew Catholic Church; and WHEREAS, A loving husband, a doting father and grandfather, and a hardworking entrepreneur, Memo Avila lived a full and generous life, and he will forever be a source of inspiration to all those who knew and loved him; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Guillermo Evaristo Avila and extend heartfelt sympathy to his relatives and 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 Memo Avila. Moody Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 763 was unanimously adopted by a rising vote of the House on March 16, 2017. Chief Clerk of the House