TITLE: Honoring Rio Grande Valley entrepreneur and philanthropist Alonzo Cantu for his accomplishments.

SUMMARY: Honoring Rio Grande Valley entrepreneur and philanthropist Alonzo Cantu for his accomplishments.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, Alonzo Cantu has greatly benefited the Rio Grande Valley through his tireless endeavors as an entrepreneur and civic leader; and WHEREAS, The son of Mexican immigrants, Mr. Cantu worked in the fields alongside his parents before they started a small construction company; he went on to become the first in his family to graduate from college, earning his bachelor's degree in finance from the University of Houston; and WHEREAS, Mr. Cantu subsequently followed in his father's footsteps, embarking on a career as a builder in the late 1970s; the president and CEO of Cantu Construction and Development, he later branched into real estate development, title insurance, and health care; in 1999, he and a group of nine doctors established Doctors Hospital at Renaissance Health System, which grew into one of the nation's largest physician-owned hospitals, and he serves the board as finance committee chair; he is also chair of Lone Star National Bank, a Hispanic-owned and operated financial institution; venturing into sports, he acquired two minor-league teams, the Rio Grande Valley FC Toros, a United Soccer League squad, and the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, an NBA development team; and WHEREAS, A pillar of the region's business community, Mr. Cantu serves in numerous key leadership roles; he is a member of the boards of the University of Houston and the Hidalgo County Regional Mobility Authority; moreover, he works to advance the quality of medical care as chair of the Border Health Political Action Committee; he is a founder and chair of the Advocacy Alliance Center of Texas, a nonpartisan organization dedicated to encouraging participation in civic life and increasing the number of voters; in addition, he is founder and chair of the Valley Alliance of Mentors for Opportunities and Scholarships (VAMOS), a nonprofit organization that has raised millions of dollars to help deserving students in Hidalgo, Starr, and Cameron Counties attend college; he is the recipient of numerous accolades, among them the 2012 University of Houston's President's Medallion and its Distinguished Alumni Award; and WHEREAS, Alonzo Cantu has contributed significantly to the prosperity of the Rio Grande Valley through his business ventures while setting an inspiring example of philanthropy, and his achievements have earned the respect and admiration of all who are privileged to know him; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas Legislature hereby honor Alonzo Cantu for his accomplishments 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. Cantu as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. Guerra Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 1481 was adopted by the House on May 19, 2023, by a non-record vote. Chief Clerk of the House