TITLE: Paying tribute to the life of Homer T. Martinez.

SUMMARY: Paying tribute to the life of Homer T. Martinez.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, Proud Aggies will forever remember the life and achievements of distinguished Texas A&M University alumnus Homer T. Martinez, who passed away on September 11, 1993; and WHEREAS, Born in San Diego, Texas, in 1912, Mr. Martinez was recruited to A&M by the legendary "Pinky" Wilson, who penned the "Aggie War Hymn"; a member of the Corps of Cadets, Mr. Martinez was cadet captain of Company Dand executive officer of the First Battalion, and he earned distinction as the Best Drilled Man in the Corps; he was also a member of the TAssociation, as well as an outfielder and pitcher for the Aggie baseball team, helping to clinch the 1934 Southwest Conference championship; he graduated from the School of Veterinary Medicine in 1937; and WHEREAS, Answering his nation's call to duty during World War II, Dr. Martinez enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1941 and served with the Veterinary Corps in the Burma Theater; he was discharged in 1945 at the rank of captain; his younger brother, Ed, lost his life in the European Theater and is among those honored with a plaque in the A&M Memorial Student Center; and WHEREAS, After the war, Dr. Martinez settled in Hebbronville, where he maintained a veterinary practice; he often donated his services to clients who could not afford to pay, and he was regularly consulted by the veterinarian at nearby King Ranch; working with his father and uncle, he was a rancher himself and was renowned for his expertise in animal genetics and nutrition; the ranch herd he developed produced a Reserve Grand Champion steer at the San Antonio Livestock Show in 1959 that was raised and shown by his nephew Arnoldo Martinez Jr., and Dr. Martinez raised a successful racehorse, Tonto Parr, which won races in Texas, New Mexico, and California; highly respected for the quality of his horses, he often sold them to the Mexican military for the purposes of equestrian competition; and WHEREAS, In 1963, Dr. Martinez was elected county judge and served for 16 years, in addition to holding the office of school superintendent ex officio; under his leadership, the county improved its roads and built new schools, an airport, and a public swimming pool; he was featured in the publication  Siempre!,which celebrated the contributions of Hispanic students, faculty, and staff at Texas A&M over the course of 130 years, and he was posthumously inducted into the Latin American International Sports Hall of Fame in Laredo in 1995; and WHEREAS, A devoted family man, Dr. Martinez enjoyed a 57-year marriage with his wife, Beatrice, and he was the proud father of a daughter, Diana, and three sons who all attended Texas A&M, Homer, Ed, and Joe, as did his grandson, Homer Martinez III; and WHEREAS, Homer Martinez lived a full and generous life in the service of his community, his nation, and his beloved alma mater, and his contributions will resonate for years to come; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life and legacy of Homer T. Martinez. Herrero Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 1655 was unanimously adopted by a rising vote of the House on May 4, 2017. Chief Clerk of the House