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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Residents of Cameron County lost an esteemed |
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community leader and friend to many with the passing of former |
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county clerk Joe G. Rivera on April 2, 2025, at the age of 85; and |
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WHEREAS, Born on October 19, 1939, Joe Rivera was the son of |
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Faustino and Benita Rivera and grew up in the Corpus Christi area |
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with the companionship of two sisters, Delia and Estella, and two |
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brothers, Gilbert and Faustino; he earned a bachelor's degree from |
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Texas Southmost College and served in the U.S. Marine Corps |
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Reserves from 1957 to 1965; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Rivera first took office as the Cameron County |
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clerk in 1974, and he went on to distinguish himself in that role |
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for more than three and a half decades; during his tenure, he |
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spearheaded numerous projects to modernize the office's |
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operations, and he was honored as the Texas County Clerk of the |
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Year; moreover, he served as president of the County and District |
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Clerks' Association of Texas and further contributed to his |
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profession by appearing before the Texas Legislature on numerous |
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occasions; and |
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WHEREAS, A prominent member of the community, Mr. Rivera held |
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leadership positions with United Way of Southern Cameron County, |
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the Mr. Amigo Association, and the Cameron County Bail Bond Board; |
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he was also a dedicated volunteer for the Jaycees, the Knights of |
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Columbus, and the Charro Days fiesta, and his myriad honors |
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included recognition from the Brownsville Rotary Club and the |
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Distinguished Citizen Award from the Boy Scouts of America; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Rivera shared 65 years of marriage with his |
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beloved wife, Ofilia, and he was the proud father of five children, |
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Michael, Joe Ernest, Robert, John, and Norma; with the passing |
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years, his treasured family grew to include 7 grandchildren and 10 |
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great-grandchildren; a man of faith, he was an active congregant of |
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St. Luke Catholic Church; and |
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WHEREAS, Deeply devoted to his family and his community, Joe |
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Rivera lived a full and generous life, and he leaves behind a legacy |
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of kindness and service to others that will continue to inspire all |
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those who knew and loved him; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the 89th Texas Legislature |
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hereby pay tribute to the memory of Joe G. Rivera and extend sincere |
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sympathy to the members of his family: to his wife, Ofilia Rivera; |
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to his children, Michael Rivera, Joe Ernest Rivera and his wife, |
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Jeannette, Robert Rivera and his wife, Brenda, John Rivera and his |
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wife, Betty, and Norma Myers and her husband, Mike; to his sister, |
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Estella Taylor; to his grandchildren, Daniel, Jacquelyn, Joe |
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Ernest, Lisa, April Marie, Stephanie, and Eric; to his |
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great-grandchildren; and to his other relatives and friends; and, |
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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 Senate adjourns this |
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day, it do so in memory of Joe Rivera. |