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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, A full and generous life drew to a close with the |
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death of Joseph LaMantia Jr. of McAllen on June 14, 2021, at the age |
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of 88; and |
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WHEREAS, Joe LaMantia was born to Joseph and Verna LaMantia |
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in 1933, and he grew up in South Texas with five sisters, Marie, |
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Ann, Shirley, Verna, and Joan; his family settled in the Rio Grande |
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Valley in 1965, and in 1977 Mr. LaMantia started L&F Distributors, |
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a wholesale beer distribution company which has since grown to |
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encompass seven locations with nearly 1,100 employees serving 53 |
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counties across the Lone Star State; and |
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WHEREAS, A longtime champion of education, Mr. LaMantia |
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established one of the first scholarships for women athletes at The |
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University of Texas-Pan American, and the scholarship was named for |
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his first wife, Ann LaMantia, who passed away in 1983; in addition, |
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L&F Distributors raised more than $5 million over eight years for |
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the Hispanic Scholarship Fund, and in 2002 he established the Stars |
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Scholarship Fund, which has disbursed over $35 million to more than |
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17,000 students in South and West Texas; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. LaMantia served on the board of the Texas |
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Department of Corrections for 15 years, and he was an active |
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supporter of the Rio Grande Cancer Treatment Research Foundation, |
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the American Heart Association, the South Texas Communities for |
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Youth Service, and the Special Olympics, among many other |
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worthwhile organizations; he was recognized as Border Texan of the |
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Year and as a Distinguished Citizen by the Boy Scouts of America Rio |
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Grande Council, and his numerous other honors include the Citizen |
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of the Year award from The University of Texas Health Science Center |
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at San Antonio, the Bridge Builder Award from UTPA, and the Golden |
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Eagle Award from the Rio Grande Valley Hispanic Chamber of |
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Commerce; and |
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WHEREAS, Following the death of his first wife, Mr. LaMantia |
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went on to share a rewarding marriage with Derrelene LaMantia that |
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spanned 36 years; he was a devoted father to his children, Val, Joe, |
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Greg, Steve, and Tony, and his stepchildren, Jennifer and Lori, and |
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he was eventually blessed with many grandchildren and |
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great-grandchildren; and |
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WHEREAS, A leader in his community, a successful |
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entrepreneur, and a generous philanthropist, Joe LaMantia leaves |
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behind a record of service that will continue to inspire all those |
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who were privileged to know him; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas |
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Legislature, 1st Called Session, hereby pay tribute to the memory |
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of Joseph LaMantia Jr. and extend heartfelt sympathy to his family |
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and his many friends; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of |
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Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Joe |
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LaMantia. |