S.C.R. No. 152 SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 1-1 WHEREAS, The Legislature of the State of Texas takes pleasure 1-2 in recognizing Belen Robles, national president of the League of 1-3 United Latin American Citizens, for her notable accomplishments as 1-4 head of the nation's most respected and highly regarded Hispanic 1-5 civil rights organization; and 1-6 WHEREAS, The first woman to serve as president during LULAC's 1-7 66-year history, Mrs. Robles has restored the public's confidence 1-8 in the organization through her sensitivity and record of 1-9 accomplishments; and 1-10 WHEREAS, The visionary individual has established ties with 1-11 government and business leaders that have resulted in Mrs. Robles 1-12 being included in high-level discussions on major policy issues and 1-13 their impact on the Hispanic community; and 1-14 WHEREAS, She formed the LULAC Corporate Alliance to foster 1-15 stronger partnerships between national corporations and the 1-16 Hispanic community; and 1-17 WHEREAS, Through her dynamic leadership, the Summit of the 1-18 Americas included Hispanics from the United States who participated 1-19 in every level of planning; last November the Education Summit in 1-20 Chicago established a five-year plan to improve education by 1-21 changing existing school curriculum; and 1-22 WHEREAS, In Dallas recently, the First Annual Civil Rights 1-23 Symposium developed strategies whereby Hispanic activists can 2-1 collectively identify and implement solutions that will have an 2-2 effect on the civil rights issues in their communities; and 2-3 WHEREAS, Mrs. Robles's influence was felt beyond the nation's 2-4 borders when she was instrumental in the selection of San Juan, 2-5 Puerto Rico, as the site of next year's Governors Conference; after 2-6 her meeting with Mexican President Zedillo, LULAC was named as one 2-7 of the primary organizations that his country will communicate 2-8 through to reach the Hispanic population in the United States; and 2-9 WHEREAS, A native of El Paso, Belen Robles joined the league 2-10 in 1957 to ensure that her children would be assured of equal 2-11 education and employment opportunities; she served as president of 2-12 Council 9 as well as district director, and her efforts resulted in 2-13 additional scholarship programs and other successful programs being 2-14 implemented; and 2-15 WHEREAS, Belen Robles has served LULAC on the national level 2-16 as secretary, director for civil rights, director for women's 2-17 activities, and vice-president for the Southwest Region; named as 2-18 one of the 10 Outstanding Women in Federal Service, Mrs. Robles is 2-19 listed in The World Who's Who of Women; for her superb efforts at 2-20 the hearings on Mexican American Affairs in El Paso several years 2-21 ago, Mrs. Robles was awarded a bronze Chamizal Medallion from 2-22 President Lyndon Johnson; and 2-23 WHEREAS, Throughout her service to the Hispanic community, 2-24 Mrs. Robles has continued to pursue a successful career, rising 2-25 through the ranks of United States Customs to become director of 3-1 community relations for the El Paso District; and 3-2 WHEREAS, Belen Robles exemplifies the new independence of 3-3 Hispanic women; she has deftly balanced a full-time career with the 3-4 traditional role of wife and mother; Mr. and Mrs. Robles recently 3-5 celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary and are the proud parents 3-6 of three grown children who have productive jobs of their own; now, 3-7 therefore, be it 3-8 RESOLVED, That the 74th Legislature of the State of Texas 3-9 hereby commend Belen Robles for her important contributions to the 3-10 League of United Latin American Citizens and extend best wishes to 3-11 her for continued success in her future endeavors; and, be it 3-12 further 3-13 RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be prepared for Mrs. 3-14 Robles as a token of the admiration of the Texas Legislature.