TITLE: In memory of former Quintana mayor Deborah Estelle Alongis.

SUMMARY: In memory of former Quintana mayor Deborah Estelle Alongis.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, Residents of Quintana are mourning the loss of former mayor and town council member Deborah Estelle Alongis, who passed away on July 26, 2021, at the age of 66; and WHEREAS, Born on January 5, 1955, Deborah Alongis lived in Kalamazoo, Michigan, before moving across the country to the tiny seaside town of Quintana in 1981; she first operated a bar and restaurant called Jeff's Jetty Burgers alongside her brother, and she soon met her future husband, boat captain Steve Alongis, who offered her a job as a deckhand; the two fell in love and later married, sharing nearly 40 years together, and they often worked side by side in behalf of their community; and WHEREAS, Although Quintana had little more than a dozen registered voters when she arrived, Ms. Alongis envisioned a bright future for the city; setting her sights on public office, she successfully ran for a seat on the town council in 1988, and she went on to be elected mayor for a tenure that lasted from 1993 to 2001; after taking a break, she returned to the council in 2014 and continued serving area citizens for another seven years until her passing; and WHEREAS, Ms. Alongis was passionate about preserving the natural beauty of Quintana; she devoted her efforts to maintaining its beach and sand dunes for the enjoyment of all, and she was instrumental in establishing several local parks, in addition to enriching the landscape with a multitude of palm trees, native foliage, and wildflowers; through her leadership, the town received a number of State of Texas community achievement awards and grants, and it also earned the distinction of being the smallest city in the state to offer curbside recycling; and WHEREAS, Ms. Alongis was the proud mother of a daughter, Amy, and she was further blessed with three precious grandchildren, Jacob, Daphne, and Luke, who brought her much joy and happiness; an outgoing and gregarious woman, she endeared herself to numerous people and also enjoyed a wide circle of friends; and WHEREAS, Deeply dedicated to her family and her community, Deborah Alongis made a meaningful difference in the lives of her loved ones and fellow citizens alike, and her contributions will be fondly remembered for years to come; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas Legislature, 2nd Called Session, hereby pay tribute to the memory of Deborah Estelle Alongis and extend heartfelt sympathy to the members of her family: to her husband, Steve Alongis; to her sister and brother-in-law, Cathy and Phil Christian; to her brothers, Gigi Reynolds and John Reynolds; to her daughter and son-in-law, Amy and Wayne Brune; to her grandchildren, Jacob, Daphne, and Luke; and to her other relatives and friends; and, be it further RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for her family and that when the Texas House of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Deborah Estelle Alongis. Vasut Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 127 was unanimously adopted by a rising vote of the House on September 2, 2021. Chief Clerk of the House