By:  Montford                                         S.R. No. 1150
    1-1                           SENATE RESOLUTION
    1-2                               In Memory
    1-3                                  of
    1-4                          Jose Antonio Parra
    1-5        WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas joins the family
    1-6  and friends of former State Representative Jose Antonio "Tony" Parra
    1-7  in mourning the untimely passing of this committed activist who died
    1-8  on April 20, 1995, at the age of 46; and
    1-9        WHEREAS, A native son of San Elizario, which was the historic
   1-10  site of the earliest and most famous battles for Hispanic rights in
   1-11  Texas, Mr. Parra continued that noble struggle in contemporary
   1-12  Texas; and
   1-13        WHEREAS, Before his election to the legislature, Mr. Parra
   1-14  worked in public relations, but this outstanding civic leader was
   1-15  widely known for his activity in the Chicano rights movement in the
   1-16  early 1970s and his participation in the 1970 Chicano Moratorium
   1-17  Against the Vietnam War, which was centered in Los Angeles; and
   1-18        WHEREAS, His fellow legislators and companions in the
   1-19  continuing effort for improvements in the Valley were stunned by
   1-20  the loss of a man who had already accomplished so much and who
   1-21  seemed destined to make a lifelong contribution to the region; and
   1-22        WHEREAS, A man of the people, a man of ability and
   1-23  unquestioned integrity, a man of vision, Mr. Parra dramatized the
    2-1  piety, dedication, sacrifices, and dreams of the people when, during
    2-2  his election canvass, he carried a cross along the dusty Valley
    2-3  roads; and
    2-4        WHEREAS, He served in the House of Representatives during
    2-5  the 1993 legislative session and, demonstrating the courage of his
    2-6  convictions, he went against the popular trend on water reform,
    2-7  saying that the rights and needs of small water districts must not
    2-8  be hastily overridden; and
    2-9        WHEREAS, Noted for his deep faith in God, liberty, and the
   2-10  Constitution, he was devoted to his parents, brothers, and the
   2-11  larger "family" of his community, and he provided a positive
   2-12  and inspiring influence in the lives of countless people; now,
   2-13  therefore, be it
   2-14        RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,
   2-15  74th Legislature, hereby express sincere condolences to the
   2-16  members of his family:  his parents, Jose and Concepcion Parra;
   2-17  and his brothers, Jose Parra and Maximo Parra; and, be it further
   2-18        RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for his
   2-19  family as an expression of deepest sympathy from the Texas Senate,
   2-20  and that when the Senate adjourns this day, it do so in memory of
   2-21  Jose Antonio Parra.
   2-22                               ______________________________________
   2-23                                      President of the Senate
   2-24                                    I hereby certify that the above
   2-25                               Resolution was adopted by the Senate
    3-1                               on May 23, 1995, by a rising vote.
    3-2                               ______________________________________
    3-3                                      Secretary of the Senate
    3-4                               ______________________________________
    3-5                                        Member, Texas Senate