87S30482 JH-D

By: Herrero H.R. No. 41

R E S O L U T I O N

WHEREAS, The State of Texas lost a bold champion of social progress and stalwart enemy of corruption with the passing of former state representative Frances Tarlton "Sissy" Farenthold of Houston on September 26, 2021, at the age of 94; and

WHEREAS, The former Frances Tarlton was born in Corpus Christi on October 2, 1926; she was the daughter of Benjamin Dudley Tarlton Jr., a prominent attorney, and Catherine "Catty" Bluntzer Tarlton, and she was also influenced by the legacy of her paternal grandfather, who had served as a state representative and a chief justice of the Court of Civil Appeals; after attending The Hockaday School in Dallas, she earned her bachelor's degree in political science from Vassar College at the age of 19; and

WHEREAS, She enrolled at The University of Texas School of Law and was one of just eight women to graduate in the Class of 1949, after which she joined her father's law firm; the following year, she married George Farenthold, and the couple became the parents of five children, James, Vincent, George, Benjamin "Dudley", and Emilie; though she placed her career on hold while raising her children, she became increasingly active in the civic life of Corpus Christi in the early 1960s, serving as a member of the city's Human Relations Commission and as director of Nueces County Legal Aid and fighting to prevent the obstruction of shoreline views in the area; and

WHEREAS, In 1968, when Ms. Farenthold launched a successful bid for a seat in the Texas House of Representatives, women candidates were rare; sworn into office at the start of the 61st Legislature the following January, she was the only woman serving in the chamber and one of just two in the entire legislature; pursuing a range of progressive measures during her two terms in office, she sought to protect the environment, advance civil rights, strengthen the social safety net, and improve public education; joining with her state senate counterpart, Barbara Jordan, she cosponsored the Texas Equal Rights Amendment and secured its passage; and

WHEREAS, Perhaps best known for promoting transparency and ethics reform, Representative Farenthold played a prominent role in focusing public attention on the corruption exposed by the Sharpstown scandal, which erupted in 1971; leading a group of like-minded legislators that became known as the Dirty Thirty, she demanded an investigation of the house speaker and others, and the group's efforts helped bring about a sea change in Texas politics; many of those connected to the scandal saw their political careers come to an end, and the Dirty Thirty continued to effect reforms at the State Capitol even after Representative Farenthold left office at the end of the 62nd Legislature; and

WHEREAS, In 1972, Ms. Farenthold ran for governor, and although she lost a runoff in the Democratic primary, she played a central role in shaping the national party's reformist platform that year; she placed second in the voting for the vice presidential candidate, besting the likes of Jimmy Carter and Ted Kennedy, and became the first woman to garner significant support for that place on the ticket; the next year, she was elected as the inaugural chair of the National Women's Political Caucus; and

WHEREAS, Ms. Farenthold went on to serve for four years as the first female president of Wells College in Aurora, New York, which was then a women-only institution; while balancing its budget and expanding student recruitment, she cofounded the Public Leadership Education Network to encourage young women to pursue careers in public service; returning to Texas, she resumed the practice of law and joined the faculties of Texas Southern University and the University of Houston, where she taught one of the nation's first classes on gender-based discrimination; and

WHEREAS, Elevating her activism to the international level, Ms. Farenthold joined the board of the Helsinki Watch Committee, precursor of Human Rights Watch, led protests against apartheid in South Africa, and participated in peace, human rights, and environmental efforts around the globe; she was also chair of the Institute for Policy Studies in Washington and a member of the advisory board of the Bernard and Audre Rapoport Center for Human Rights and Justice at The University of Texas School of Law; other notable achievements included serving as chair of the interfaith Rothko Chapel in Houston for three decades and as executive producer of the 2009 documentary Quest for Honor; her myriad accolades include the inaugural Molly Ivins Lifetime Achievement Award from the ACLU of Texas, the Lyndon Johnson Lifetime Service Award from the Democratic Party of Texas, and the 2013 Women of Courage Award from the National Women's Political Caucus; and

WHEREAS, Sissy Farenthold devoted herself wholeheartedly to making the world more just, peaceful, and humane, and although she is deeply missed, her vision and compassion will remain a lasting source of inspiration in the years to come; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas Legislature, 3rd Called Session, hereby pay tribute to the life of the Honorable Frances Tarlton "Sissy" Farenthold and extend sincere condolences to all who mourn her passing; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for her family and that when the Texas House of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Sissy Farenthold.