TITLE: Recognizing Richard F. Cortez on the occasion of his retirement.

SUMMARY: Recognizing Richard F. Cortez on the occasion of his retirement.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to recognize retiring McAllen mayor Richard F. Cortez for his outstanding civic and community service; and WHEREAS, During his tenure as mayor since 2005, he has overseen many positive advances in McAllen, including the construction of a $53 million convention center and a new international bridge and the improvement of several city parks; also under his guidance, the city created arts and entertainment districts, enacted a historical preservation ordinance, and formed a youth advisory council; and WHEREAS, This highly effective city leader has forged important alliances in Mexico; his accounting partnership, Burton McCumber and Cortez, L.L.P., has offices in Brownsville and McAllen and in Matamoros and Reynosa, Mexico, and he is the former vice chairman of the Texas Border Coalition, which unites mayors and other community leaders along the Texas-Mexico border; and WHEREAS, Mayor Cortez has hosted former American president George W. Bush and former Mexican president Vicente Fox, and he is widely respected on both sides of the border for his longstanding efforts to bridge cultural gaps; and WHEREAS, The esteemed mayor, who has resided in McAllen for 31 years, holds a bachelor's degree in business administration from Pan American College; he is involved in the McAllen Rotary Club and the McAllen Boys' and Girls' Club; he received the Distinguished Gold Medal from the governor of the Mexican state of Veracruz for his friendship as mayor; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 83rd Legislature, hereby commend Mayor Richard F. Cortez on his outstanding service to McAllen; and, be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for Mayor Cortez as an expression of high regard from the Texas Senate. Hinojosa President of the Senate I hereby certify that the above Resolution was adopted by the Senate on May 14, 2013.