TITLE: Honoring Johnny Cace's Seafood and Steak House for its longtime presence in the Longview community.

SUMMARY: Honoring Johnny Cace's Seafood and Steak House for its longtime presence in the Longview community.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, After 66 years of serving the residents of Longview, Johnny Cace's Seafood and Steak House closed its doors on March 28, 2015, but this local institution has left generations of customers with many happy memories; and WHEREAS, The restaurant was founded in 1949 by John S. Cace Jr., a Louisiana native; while growing up, Mr. Cace worked with his father, who fished and cultivated oysters, and helped his parents in their seafood market and restaurant; he also learned to cook a wide variety of seafood himself; and WHEREAS, After serving for four years in the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II, Mr. Cace moved with his wife, the former Valerie Savony, to Longview and opened a fine-dining seafood restaurant that showcased his New Orleans-influenced cuisine; the eatery quickly found success and was soon renovated to increase capacity; in 1964, it was relocated to Marshall Avenue, where it was eventually expanded to accommodate 450 diners; Mr. Cace was elected president of both the Texas Restaurant Association and the Longview Chamber of Commerce in 1966, and in 1992 he was named Man of the Year by the Longview Federated Clubs; and WHEREAS, In the early 1980s, Mr. Cace handed over the operation of the family business to his son Gerard Cace and his wife, Cathy, and she continued running the restaurant with their daughters, Chelsea and Jenni, after her husband's passing in 2012; the founder's other two sons, John Cace III and Danny Cace, also played active roles in the restaurant by serving on its board of directors; and WHEREAS, Over the years, Longview residents shared some of the most joyful moments of their lives at the award-winning restaurant, which routinely hosted anniversary, engagement, and graduation celebrations and other special occasions; in tribute to Johnny Cace and his contributions to the community, an official Texas Historical Marker was dedicated at the site of the restaurant in March 2015; and WHEREAS, Although the closing of Johnny Cace's Seafood and Steak House marks the end of an era in Longview, the Cace family may indeed take great pride in the landmark status their restaurant achieved during its long and illustrious history; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas Legislature hereby recognize Johnny Cace's Seafood and Steak House for its many decades of service to its customers and extend to all those associated with the restaurant sincere best wishes for the future; and, be it further RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for the Cace family as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. Simpson Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 2162 was adopted by the House on May 21, 2015, by a non-record vote. Chief Clerk of the House