Honoring José H. Villarreal for his professional and civic achievements.

89(R) HR 1127 - Enrolled version - Bill Text

H.R. No. 1127

R E S O L U T I O N

WHEREAS, The State of Texas draws immeasurable strength from

individuals such as José H. Villarreal, who has distinguished

himself in the course of his exemplary career; and

WHEREAS, A native of East Chicago, Indiana, Mr. Villarreal

began his career as a civil rights lawyer in Texas, and in 1988, he

became state assistant attorney general; he went on to hold senior

positions in the presidential campaigns for Bill Clinton, who also

appointed him associate director of the White House Office of

Presidential Personnel during his administration; in the early

1990s, he joined the law firm McGinnis, Lochridge & Kilgore, and by

the end of the decade, he had become a partner at Akin Gump Strauss

Hauer & Feld, specializing in public law, policy, and finance;

since his retirement in 2020, he has continued to serve Akin Gump as

a consultant; along the way, he has remained highly involved in

politics, playing an instrumental role in the presidential

campaigns for Al Gore, Hillary Clinton, and Barack Obama; in 2010,

he was appointed U.S. commissioner general to the Shanghai World

Expo, and he was awarded the rank of ambassador by President Obama;

and

WHEREAS, Mr. Villarreal has served on the boards of numerous

organizations, including the KIPP Foundation, the Center for

American Progress, the Cisneros Center for New Americans, the

U.S.-Mexico Foundation, Teach for America, Leadership for

Educational Equity, Close Up Foundation, and Fannie Mae; he has

also chaired the boards of the National Council of La Raza and the

New America Alliance, and he has helped to guide the board of the

Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute as vice chair; previously,

he was active on the boards of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., and Union

Pacific; and

WHEREAS, Among his many honors, Mr. Villarreal was included

in the 2025 class of inductees to the San Antonio Aviation and

Aerospace Hall of Fame, and in 2015, he received the Order of the

Aztec Eagle, the most prestigious decoration awarded by the Mexican

government; in addition, Purdue University presented him with a

Distinguished Alumni award in 2011, and the Indiana University

Maurer School of Law honored him as a member of its Academy of Law

Alumni Fellows in 2001; he holds a bachelor's degree in political

science from Purdue and a juris doctor degree from the IU School of

Law; and

WHEREAS, An esteemed legal professional and an engaged

citizen, José Villarreal has earned the respect and admiration of

innumerable people, and he may reflect with pride on his myriad

contributions; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas

Legislature hereby commend José H. Villarreal for his professional

and civic achievements and extend to him sincere best wishes for

continued success; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be

prepared for Mr. Villarreal as an expression of high regard by the

Texas House of Representatives.

Martinez Fischer

______________________________

Speaker of the House

I certify that H.R. No. 1127 was adopted by the House on June

1, 2025, by a non-record vote.

______________________________

Chief Clerk of the House