TITLE: In memory of the life of Celestino G. Martinez, Jr.

SUMMARY: In memory of the life of Celestino G. Martinez, Jr.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas honors and commemorates the life of Celestino G. Martinez, Jr., who died June 4, 2008, at the age of 63; and WHEREAS, Celestino G. Martinez, Jr., was born February 13, 1945, in Brownsville, to Celestino Martinez and Soledad Garzoria; blessed with an outgoing, magnetic personality, he flourished in school, making numerous lifelong friends; and WHEREAS, He worked hard to attain his goal of enlisting in the United States Air Force after graduation, and he entered military service on June 10, 1963; and WHEREAS, He trained as a weather observer and was eventually deployed to Vietnam, where he provided vital information in support of the United States Army's 101st Airborne Division; he was also twice airlifted into the besieged Marine camp at Khe Sanh, where his crucial observations played an important role in the defense and resupply of the camp, and he earned a Bronze Star for his meritorious service; and WHEREAS, Following his 1971 honorable discharge from military service, he moved with his sons to Brownsville, where he pursued a degree at Pan American University and took a job with Union Carbide Electronic Components; he earned bachelor's and master's degrees while continuing to work full-time to support his family; and WHEREAS, After his time with Union Carbide, Mr. Martinez joined the firm of Littelfuse, where he served 22 years as a purchasing and logistics manager; he was active in the Rio Grande Valley Purchasing Management Association, serving on and chairing numerous committees and leading classes and seminars to share his expertise in the field; and WHEREAS, Mr. Martinez served and supported his fellow veterans as a member of American Legion Post 43 and American Vietnam Veterans Chapter I, and he also served for a time as quartermaster of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2035; in his later years, even as he struggled with the consequences of his exposure to Agent Orange, he continued to provide support for veterans by creating a program to welcome and honor service members as they returned from Middle East deployments; and WHEREAS, A man of courage, compassion, and wisdom, he gave unselfishly to others, and his generosity, his strength in the face of adversity, and his enthusiasm for living each day to the fullest will not be forgotten by those who knew him; and WHEREAS, He was devoted to his large and loving extended family, and he leaves behind memories that will be treasured forever by his family and many friends; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 82nd Legislature, hereby extend sincere condolences to the family and friends of Celestino G. Martinez, Jr.; and, be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for his family as an expression of deepest sympathy from the Texas Senate, and that when the Senate adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Celestino G. Martinez, Jr. Lucio President of the Senate I hereby certify that the above Resolution was adopted by the Senate on April 26, 2011, by a rising vote.