H.R. No. 419
                                  R E S O L U T I O N
    1-1        WHEREAS, The Texas House of Representatives is proud to honor
    1-2  Dr. Hector P. Garcia for his significant contributions in advancing
    1-3  the cause of civil rights in our country; and
    1-4        WHEREAS, A native of Mexico, this distinguished physician
    1-5  earned his medical degree from The University of Texas School of
    1-6  Medicine in 1940 before serving with distinction during World War
    1-7  II and receiving for his bravery the Bronze Star with six battle
    1-8  stars; and
    1-9        WHEREAS, After returning to the United States, Dr. Garcia
   1-10  founded the American GI Forum in 1948 to tackle the problems of
   1-11  discrimination faced by Hispanic veterans; as a result of his
   1-12  visionary efforts, the forum has grown through the ensuing years to
   1-13  become a major civil rights organization; and
   1-14        WHEREAS, Dr. Garcia went on to provide leadership and
   1-15  expertise in the civil rights arena for several United States
   1-16  presidents, beginning with President John F.  Kennedy, and served
   1-17  in a variety of important capacities during the administration of
   1-18  President Lyndon B. Johnson, including membership on the United
   1-19  States National Commission on Civil Rights and on the National
   1-20  Advisory Council on Economic Opportunity; in 1984, he was awarded
   1-21  the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Ronald Reagan, the
   1-22  highest honor that may be bestowed on a civilian, in recognition of
   1-23  his extraordinary service; and
    2-1        WHEREAS, Dr. Garcia has garnered international acclaim for
    2-2  his laudable efforts, as well as numerous awards from such
    2-3  prominent institutions as the NAACP, the National Council of La
    2-4  Raza, LULAC, the Mexican American Physician's Association, and Yale
    2-5  University; Dr. Garcia also has been honored by Pope John Paul II;
    2-6  and
    2-7        WHEREAS, His contributions to others have been commemorated
    2-8  by the naming of a health center in his honor, as well as a park
    2-9  and the main post office in the city of Corpus Christi, where he
   2-10  resides; in 1993, Texas A&M University at Corpus Christi unveiled
   2-11  the Hector P. Garcia statue, which will stand as a lasting tribute
   2-12  to this great man and serve as a reminder of the noble ideals he
   2-13  has stood for throughout the civil rights movement; and
   2-14        WHEREAS, On the homefront, Dr. Garcia is a devoted family man
   2-15  who has enjoyed a happy and rewarding family life with his wife,
   2-16  Wanda Fusillo, and their three children, Daisy Wanda, Adriana
   2-17  Cecilia, and Susana Patricia; and
   2-18        WHEREAS, Dr. Hector P. Garcia has dedicated much of his life
   2-19  to achieving equality for the Hispanic citizens of our state and
   2-20  nation, and his many extraordinary contributions to his fellowman
   2-21  are indeed deserving of our highest praise and recognition; now,
   2-22  therefore, be it
   2-23        RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 74th Texas
   2-24  Legislature hereby commend Dr. Hector P. Garcia for his outstanding
   2-25  achievements as a true humanitarian; and, be it further
    3-1        RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
    3-2  prepared for Dr. Garcia as an expression of highest regard by the
    3-3  Texas House of Representatives.