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SENATE RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas honors and |
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commemorates the life of Frances Tarlton "Sissy" Farenthold, who |
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died September 26, 2021, at the age of 94; and |
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WHEREAS, A legendary activist, educator, and leader for |
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social justice, Sissy Farenthold was born in Corpus Christi on |
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October 2, 1926; she attended Corpus Christi High School and |
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graduated from The Hockaday School; she went on to earn a degree |
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from Vassar College at the age of 19 and a degree from The |
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University of Texas School of Law at the age of 22; and |
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WHEREAS, Sissy began a long career in public service and |
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civil rights advocacy by accepting a number of appointments to |
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various humanitarian service organizations and commissions; she |
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served as director of Nueces County Legal Aid, and in 1968, she |
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was elected as the only woman to serve in the Texas House of |
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Representatives; she gained widespread support for her |
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sponsorship of the Texas Equal Rights Amendment and for her |
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tireless pursuit of justice during the investigation of the |
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Sharpstown Scandal; and |
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WHEREAS, Sissy gained national recognition when she was |
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tapped as a potential vice presidential running mate for George |
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McGovern at the 1972 Democratic National Convention and was the |
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first woman whose nomination for the position was brought to a |
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floor vote; she continued a path of trailblazing leadership in |
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her roles as the first chair of the National Women's Political |
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Caucus and as the first woman president of Wells College; she |
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served as a professor at the Thurgood Marshall School of Law, and |
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she taught one of the nation's first classes on sex-based |
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discrimination as a professor at the University of Houston; and |
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WHEREAS, An esteemed figure in international activism, |
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Sissy was a member of the Helsinki Watch Committee Board of |
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Directors, and she helped lead protests against nuclear |
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proliferation and against apartheid in South Africa; she played a |
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key role in the Third United Nations Conference for Women, and |
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she participated in peace-keeping missions throughout Central |
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America, Asia, and the Middle East; and |
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WHEREAS, Sissy gave generously of her time and resources |
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to charitable and cultural organizations; the Frances Tarlton |
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"Sissy" Farenthold Endowed Lecture Series in Peace, Social |
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Justice, and Human Rights is presented each year by the Rapoport |
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Center and the Rothko Chapel to honor and reflect on her 60 years |
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of activism and humanitarian service; and |
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WHEREAS, Sissy married George Edward Farenthold in 1950, |
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and they were blessed with five children; her three grandchildren |
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and three great-grandchildren were a source of pride and joy for |
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her; and |
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WHEREAS, A truly beloved Texan, Sissy Farenthold was a |
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tireless voice for the vulnerable and underserved, and she was a |
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source of strength to others through her compassion and her work |
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to bring about equal justice for all; she leaves behind a legacy |
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of service that will continue to inspire citizens long into the |
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future; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 87th |
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Legislature, 3rd Called Session, hereby extend sincere |
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condolences to the bereaved family of Frances Tarlton |
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Farenthold; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for |
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her family as an expression of deepest sympathy from the Texas |
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Senate and that when the Senate adjourns this day, it do so in |
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memory of Sissy Farenthold. |