S.R. No. 489
1-1 SENATE RESOLUTION
1-2 WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is proud
1-3 to recognize the American G.I. Forum and its founder,
1-4 Dr. Hector P. Garcia, for its numerous contributions to the
1-5 lives of countless men and women; and
1-6 WHEREAS, Celebrating its Founder's Banquet on March 24, 1995,
1-7 the American G.I. Forum was founded in the City of Corpus Christi
1-8 in 1948 to help all World War II veterans get the health and
1-9 educational benefits to which they were entitled; and
1-10 WHEREAS, Following World War II, Mexican-Americans were
1-11 subject to the same Jim Crow practices that were prevalent in
1-12 many parts of the country; the G.I. Forum through the strong
1-13 leadership of Dr. Hector P. Garcia helped these Mexican-American
1-14 veterans get the services that were due to them; and
1-15 WHEREAS, The Founder and guiding light of the American
1-16 G.I. Forum has been Dr. Hector P. Garcia, who has seen his
1-17 organization blossom and quickly move to the vanguard of the
1-18 civil rights movement; and
1-19 WHEREAS, Dr. Hector P. Garcia's wise counsel and sound
1-20 judgment have been sought after by our nation's leaders;
1-21 President Johnson appointed him as a delegate to the United Nations
1-22 with the rank of Ambassador and President Carter chose him to be a
1-23 member of the United States Circuit Judge Nominating Commission
2-1 for the Western Fifth Circuit Panel; and
2-2 WHEREAS, Although his greatness can not be measured by the
2-3 honors and accolades bestowed on him, Dr. Hector P. Garcia received
2-4 the Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian award, from
2-5 President Reagan in 1984 and the Equestrian Order of Pope Gregory
2-6 the Great from Pope John Paul II; and
2-7 WHEREAS, In a fitting tribute to the life of service of this
2-8 dedicated and compassionate humanitarian, Dr. Hector P. Garcia
2-9 received the Distinguished Service Award from the National Office
2-10 of Civil Rights and the Hispanic Heritage Award from the National
2-11 Hispanic Leadership Conference; and
2-12 WHEREAS, Since Dr. Hector P. Garcia founded the American
2-13 G.I. Forum, his courage, fortitude, and integrity have remained
2-14 undiminished by the passage of time; and
2-15 WHEREAS, In May, 1954, a landmark case was decided before
2-16 the United States Supreme Court; the American G.I. Forum and the
2-17 League of United Latin American Citizens sent a team of attorneys
2-18 to argue the case Hernandez vs. State of Texas which was about
2-19 the exclusion of Latinos from petit-jury duty; and
2-20 WHEREAS, Chief Justice Earl Warren wrote the decision in
2-21 favor of Hernandez, thus taking a step in ending legal
2-22 discrimination against Hispanics; and
2-23 WHEREAS, The Founder's Banquet will honor Dr. Hector P. Garcia
2-24 and his fellow charter members of the American G.I. Forum who never
2-25 wavered in their commitment to the American ideals of justice and
3-1 liberty that they had fought so hard to preserve; now, therefore, be
3-2 it
3-3 RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,
3-4 74th Legislature, hereby commend the Founder of the American G.I.
3-5 Forum, Dr. Hector P. Garcia, and proclaim its respect and admiration
3-6 for the man who helped forge a new era for Mexican-Americans; and,
3-7 be it further
3-8 RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for the
3-9 American G.I. Forum and for Dr. Hector P. Garcia as an expression
3-10 of the highest regard from the Texas Senate.
3-11 Truan
3-12 Armbrister Henderson Ratliff
3-13 Barrientos Leedom Rosson
3-14 Bivins Lucio Shapiro
3-15 Brown Luna Sibley
3-16 Cain Madla Sims
3-17 Ellis Moncrief Turner
3-18 Gallegos Montford Wentworth
3-19 Galloway Nelson West
3-20 Harris Nixon Whitmire
3-21 Haywood Patterson Zaffirini
3-22 Bullock, President of the Senate
3-23 ______________________________________
3-24 President of the Senate
3-25 I hereby certify that the above
4-1 Resolution was adopted by the Senate
4-2 on March 21, 1995.
4-3 ______________________________________
4-4 Secretary of the Senate
4-5 ______________________________________
4-6 Dean of the Senate