Senator Gallegos and I first met when I was a young Legislative Aide working in Austin for then State Representative Tony Polumbo. I was from Galena Park/ North Shore and he was from nearby Magnolia. Tony was a serious supporter of Fire and Police issues and the Fire Fighters frequently dropped by our office.

Senator Gallegos was a frequent visitor to our office. As we got to know each other, I thought he was one of the funniest people I met among the serious lobbyists that come around during a legislative session. He always put the intensity of the daily debate into a humorous perspective and taught me not to take my young, earnest self too seriously.

As he ran for State Representative, I joyfully cheered him on, knowing that his great sense of humor and irony would provide even more perspective to the Texas House. Once elected, I watched him become an intense fighter for the people he represented. While he maintained that great humor, he became very serious about issues.

As he moved to the Texas Senate, he became ever more serious. He was a fighter for the underdog every day. Sometimes, he came off so intense that people would recoil a bit and when he did, you clearly understood his position.

By then, I was a lobbyist for business. The Senator never hesitated to tell me exactly what he thought about my issues. He would say, “Nancy, I can’t believe you’re working for that bidness issue. You’re just wrong on this one but you’re still my friend.” I always loved the fact that he told me straight where he stood and consistently maintained his position. We would still share a laugh.

Whether we agreed or not, I always admired his tenacity. None more than when he went to Austin, seriously ill, to stop passage of a Voter Identification bill he thought would hurt his community and discourage voting. Senator Gallegos shared that many of his constituents used public transportation and did not necessarily have a driver’s license. He had a hospital bed installed in the Senate as he was recovering from his liver transplant. During this time, my two favorite traits about him shone through – his intensity and passion for public service and his sense of humor. He was making fun of himself, even though he was seriously ill.

The East End of Houston, that he represented, has flourished in recent years. It is sad that the Senator will not fully savor the renaissance of his core neighborhoods and constituencies.

Few people come along in life that have fully dedicated themselves to public service. Senator Gallegos began saving lives as a young fire fighter and continued his service by fighting for his communities.

Personally, my best memories of him will still be him sidling up next to me – whether as a fire fighter watching legislation, a State Representative, or a State Senator – and whispering under his breath a remark that would make me laugh out loud at an inappropriate moment. When I think of this Mario, I still smile.

Farewell my friend and thanks for giving your life to public service.