TITLE: Commending the Honorable Juan Manuel Escobar of Kingsville for his public service.

SUMMARY: Commending the Honorable Juan Manuel Escobar of Kingsville for his public service.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, The Honorable Juan Manuel Escobar, county judge of Kleberg County, has compiled an exceptional record of public service; and WHEREAS, A seventh-generation Tejano, Judge Escobar was born and raised in Escobares, a Starr County community that was founded by his ancestor Jose Maria Escobar in 1753; while a student at Roma High School, he excelled at both academics and athletics and served as president of the student council; and WHEREAS, After graduating from high school in 1969, Judge Escobar enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps and saw combat in Vietnam; within 15 months of entering the armed forces, he was promoted to the rank of sergeant; his military awards include the Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, and Presidential Unit Citation; in addition, he was selected for membership in the prestigious U.S. Marine Corps Presidential Honor Guard in Washington, D.C., and while part of that unit, he served as a pallbearer for presidents Harry S. Truman and Lyndon B. Johnson; and WHEREAS, Following his discharge in 1973, Judge Escobar returned to the Rio Grande Valley and worked as a Starr County deputy sheriff while earning a bachelor's degree in biology from Pan American University; he joined the U.S. Border Patrol in 1978 and enjoyed a stellar 25-year career with that agency, rising to hold the post of senior special agent with an undercover unit, the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force; and WHEREAS, In May 2003, Juan Escobar was elected to the Texas House of Representatives to fill the unexpired term of Representative Irma Rangel; during his tenure, which extended to 2009, he was instrumental in the establishment of the Irma Lerma Rangel College of Pharmacy, located on the campus of Texas A&M University--Kingsville, and in the creation of the Kenedy County Groundwater Conservation District; he also worked to address the problem of beach erosion, and his legislative agenda showed him to be a forceful advocate for veterans, teachers, the public schools, higher education, and human services; he served as vice chair of the Defense Affairs and State-Federal Relations Committee and as a member of the Border and International Affairs, Criminal Jurisprudence, House Administration, and Land and Resource Management Committees; and WHEREAS, Elected county judge in November 2010, Juan Escobar has set as his first priorities the creation of more housing in the county, the boosting of high school graduation rates, and the improvement of county infrastructure; he also plans to be active in fostering economic growth and in promoting ecotourism; and WHEREAS, Judge Escobar has long worked for the betterment of his community through his involvement in local organizations; among the many groups to benefit from his talents have been the boards of trustees of the Brooks County Independent School District and the Kingsville ISD, both of which he has served as president; additionally, he is a lay minister and a former administrator for St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Kingsville, and he is affiliated with, and has been a commander of, a number of veterans associations; and WHEREAS, This esteemed Texan has been named Legislator of the Year by the Vietnam Veterans of America, the Sierra Club of Texas, and the Texas affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union; his outstanding work has also drawn tributes from the Texas Border Sheriff's Coalition, American GI Forum, and Texas Association of Mexican American Chambers of Commerce; and WHEREAS, In all of his endeavors, Judge Escobar enjoys the love and support of his wife of 39 years, Rosie, his daughter, Yvonne Yvette, and his son and daughter-in-law, Eduardo Eden and Marleena; and WHEREAS, Over a span of four decades, Juan Escobar has provided skillful, forward-looking leadership in behalf of his fellow citizens, and he continues tirelessly to seek new avenues for advancing the common good; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas Legislature hereby commend the Honorable Juan Manuel Escobar for his myriad contributions to the Lone Star State and extend to him sincere appreciation for his distinguished career in public service; and, be it further RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for Judge Escobar as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. Lozano Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 1014 was adopted by the House on April 7, 2011, by a non-record vote. Chief Clerk of the House