Bill > HR524

This resolution honors the life and legacy of Rafael "Ralph" Gonzales Jr., a prominent San Marcos restaurateur and community leader who passed away on January 25, 2025, at the age of 90. Born in Martindale in 1934, Gonzales was the son of Rafael Gonzales Sr. and Virginia Lopez Gonzales, who dropped out of school in seventh grade to support his family and later became a successful entrepreneur by founding Pic-A-Taco, a restaurant that gained national recognition and even led to an invitation to cook for President Jimmy Carter in 1980. The resolution highlights Gonzales's significant community contributions, including providing free food during local floods, organizing humanitarian aid after a Guatemala earthquake, serving as a Hays County commissioner from 1980 to 1990, supporting various local organizations, and founding Nosotros la Gente, a nonprofit that provides shoes to children in need. The Texas House of Representatives unanimously adopted this resolution to pay tribute to Gonzales's life, extend condolences to his family (which includes four children, seven grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren), and commemorate his meaningful impact on his community, ultimately directing that an official copy of the resolution be prepared for his family.

https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=HR524