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