By Gutierrez                                           H.R. No. 833

         75R13536 JHS-D                           

                                 R E S O L U T I O N

 1-1           WHEREAS, For 86 years, Rafaela "Fela" Chapa has lived in the

 1-2     Rio Grande Valley, and her efforts to maintain the importance of

 1-3     family and community values in this region are truly exemplary; and

 1-4           WHEREAS, Born March 21, 1911, in the tiny village of Las

 1-5     Penitas, Mrs. Chapa grew up in an atmosphere of love and generosity

 1-6     among the Mexican-American population; although there were many

 1-7     struggles to contend with, Mrs. Chapa and her 12 brothers and

 1-8     sisters were fortunate to have remarkable role models in their

 1-9     parents; and

1-10           WHEREAS, Her father, Eusebio de la Garza worked hard to

1-11     support his family, and his dedication enabled young "Fela" to

1-12     pursue an education, an opportunity that was rare for

1-13     Mexican-Americans at the time, particularly women; she attended

1-14     elementary school in Penitas and completed her schooling in nearby

1-15     La Joya in 1933; and

1-16           WHEREAS, Although she aspired to become a nurse,

1-17     circumstances required her to remain at home, where she used the

1-18     knowledge she had gained to educate local children in a small

1-19     "school" next door to her family's house; and

1-20           WHEREAS, In 1935, she married Octavio A. Chapa, and their

1-21     29-year union produced five children, Blanca Estela, Octavio

1-22     Armando, Jr., Joel Ramiro, Alberto Xavier, and David Francisco; and

1-23           WHEREAS, The experience Mrs. Chapa gained while rearing her

1-24     children has provided her with immeasurable insight into gaining

 2-1     and maintaining the respect of young people; despite her lack of

 2-2     formal teacher training, this remarkable woman has excelled in her

 2-3     career as a substitute teacher, relying on her understanding of

 2-4     children to guide her in this worthy endeavor; and

 2-5           WHEREAS, Mrs. Chapa remains active in her community, and her

 2-6     youthful exuberance continues to surprise even those closest to

 2-7     her; she is a regular at the McAllen Senior Citizens Center's

 2-8     dances and her presence in the lives of her 15 grandchildren and 13

 2-9     great-grandchildren is yet another demonstration of her emphasis on

2-10     the importance of family; and

2-11           WHEREAS, By providing guidance and love for the members of

2-12     her family and cultivating an atmosphere of cooperation and trust

2-13     among her friends and neighbors in the Rio Grande Valley,

2-14     Mrs. Chapa has proven that one individual can indeed make a lasting

2-15     difference,  and her lifetime commitment to these ideals is truly

2-16     deserving of special legislative recognition; now, therefore, be it

2-17           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 75th Texas

2-18     Legislature hereby commend Rafaela "Fela" Chapa for her many

2-19     contributions to her family and the citizens of the Rio Grande

2-20     Valley and extend to her sincere best wishes for continued success

2-21     and happiness in the future; and, be it further

2-22           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be

2-23     prepared for Mrs. Chapa as an expression of high regard by the

2-24     Texas House of Representatives.