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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The city of McAllen lost a beloved civic leader with |
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the untimely death of Oscar Raul Cardenas on May 13, 2011, at the |
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age of 50; and |
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WHEREAS, Born in McAllen on July 3, 1960, Mr. Cardenas was the |
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son of Dardanella and Ruben Cardenas; he was diagnosed with |
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muscular dystrophy as a youngster and used a wheelchair from |
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childhood, but he never let the condition define him; throughout |
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his life, his courage, determination, and boundless enthusiasm left |
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an indelible impression on all who encountered him; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Cardenas completed his bachelor's degree in |
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accounting at Texas A&M University and returned to McAllen, where |
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he worked for the Long, Chilton firm before embarking on an |
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entrepreneurial path; he eventually employed more than 100 people |
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at his two companies, Medical Accounts Receivable Services and the |
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Copy It Printing Center, and he was a caring mentor to the members |
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of his staff, as well as to numerous members of his community; for |
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everyone he met, he had a bright smile and encouraging word, and his |
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character, intellect, and sense of humor endeared him to a host of |
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friends; and |
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WHEREAS, This admired businessman served in myriad |
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leadership roles, including as president of the McAllen Easter |
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Seals, Jaycees, and Better Business Bureau, as well as of the |
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Muscular Dystrophy Association of the Rio Grande Valley and of the |
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Valley Association of Independent Living; in addition, he served as |
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chair of the Food Bank of the Rio Grande Valley and director of the |
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Museum of South Texas History, and he was a member of the finance |
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committee for the McAllen Airport Advisory Board; he was also the |
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treasurer of Our Lady of Sorrows Church; in 2008, he was named |
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Easter Seals Humanitarian of the Year, and he was named 2004 Man of |
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the Year by the McAllen Chamber of Commerce; moreover, he received |
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the MDA State of Texas Individual Achievement Award and the Texas |
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State Independent Living Council Outstanding Individual |
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Achievement Award, among many other accolades; and |
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WHEREAS, Oscar Cardenas brought joy to innumerable people and |
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surmounted enormous challenges in order to make a lasting, positive |
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difference in the world around him; although he will be deeply |
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missed, his compassion, generosity, and devotion to his loved ones |
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and his community will forever remain a source of inspiration; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Oscar Raul Cardenas |
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and extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to his |
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devoted wife of 19 years, Dora Cardenas; to his parents, Dardanella |
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and Ruben Cardenas; to his brother, Dr. Carlos J. Cardenas, and his |
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wife, Chris; to his sister, Diana Albrecht, and her husband, Cecil; |
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to his nieces and nephews, Adam, Simon, and Daniel Cardenas and |
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Hilary, Miles, and Emily Albrecht; to his aunt, Sylvia Cardenas; to |
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his mother-in-law and father-in-law, Josefina and Jose Castillo; to |
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his sister-in-law, Julia Perez, and her husband, Edgar, and their |
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daughters, Christina, Jessica, and Amanda; to his brother-in-law, |
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Jaime Castillo, and his son, Johann; and to his other relatives and |
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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 Oscar Raul |
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Cardenas. |