SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
1-1 WHEREAS, Texans, and indeed all Americans, were deeply
1-2 saddened by the passing of the Honorable Frank M. Tejeda, Jr., on
1-3 January 30, 1997, at the age of 51, and the Texas Legislature joins
1-4 the Tejeda family in bidding a reluctant farewell to this
1-5 extraordinary public servant; and
1-6 WHEREAS, Born October 2, 1945, in San Antonio, Congressman
1-7 Tejeda learned the value of education and hard work from an early
1-8 age, helping to support his close-knit family by mowing yards,
1-9 washing windows, and shining shoes; and
1-10 WHEREAS, At the age of 17, this patriotic Texan joined the
1-11 United States Marine Corps and gained rank quickly, first becoming
1-12 the youngest Marine corporal in the corps and later the youngest
1-13 staff sergeant; while serving in Vietnam in 1965, he led his squad
1-14 across 75 yards of open space in an attack against a Viet Cong
1-15 sniper station outside of Da Nang in an action that would earn him
1-16 a bronze star; and
1-17 WHEREAS, Wounded in action the following year, Congressman
1-18 Tejeda returned to the states and resumed his education, but his
1-19 commitment to the Marines continued through his service in its
1-20 reserve corps; he would later attend the Marine Reserve Officers
1-21 Candidate School at Camp Quantico, and while pursuing his studies
1-22 there, he broke all records, receiving a near perfect 98.08
1-23 combined evaluation score for academics, physical skills, and
2-1 leadership; and
2-2 WHEREAS, Although he displayed little interest in academics
2-3 during his high school years, his military service seemed to
2-4 instill in him a newfound sense of purpose and discipline; he went
2-5 on to earn a bachelor's degree in government from St. Mary's
2-6 University, a law degree from the University of California at
2-7 Berkeley, and a master's degree in public administration from the
2-8 prestigious Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University; and
2-9 WHEREAS, First elected to the Texas Legislature in 1976, this
2-10 distinguished gentleman served the people of South San Antonio for
2-11 five terms in the house of representatives and three terms in the
2-12 senate, authoring important legislation establishing the Crime
2-13 Victims Bill of Rights and the Texas Veterans Housing Assistance
2-14 Program, as well as creating several new courts in Bexar County; he
2-15 drew on his vast legal expertise to serve as chairman of the House
2-16 Committee on Judicial Affairs and as a member of the Senate
2-17 Committees on Jurisprudence and Criminal Justice, and his graduate
2-18 studies gave him valuable insight as a member and eventually
2-19 chairman of the Senate Committee on Intergovernmental Relations;
2-20 and
2-21 WHEREAS, His fierce dedication to the people of his district,
2-22 combined with his outstanding ability to get things done, won him
2-23 the respect and admiration of his constituents, and in 1992, he was
2-24 elected to the newly created 28th District seat in the United
2-25 States House of Representatives; he quickly established himself as
3-1 an intelligent and committed lawmaker, and he earned key
3-2 assignments to the Armed Services, Veterans Affairs, and National
3-3 Security committees; and
3-4 WHEREAS, Throughout his career, Congressman Tejeda remained
3-5 above all else a devoted father to his three children and an active
3-6 member of his community, contributing his time to such worthwhile
3-7 organizations as the Knights of Columbus, the Veterans of Foreign
3-8 Wars, the American Legion, and the Southside Chamber of Commerce;
3-9 he was recognized for his personal and public leadership with an
3-10 Honorary Life Membership in the Texas Parent-Teacher Association,
3-11 and he was the proud recipient of the Texas State Teachers
3-12 Association Friends of Education Award and the San Antonio Jaycees
3-13 Distinguished Service Award; and
3-14 WHEREAS, Frank Tejeda dedicated much of his life to the
3-15 service of his country and to the State of Texas, and his many
3-16 contributions will not be forgotten; a man of unique spirit and
3-17 character, he has left a remarkable legacy of good works by which
3-18 to remember him, and it is indeed appropriate that he be honored at
3-19 this time; now, therefore, be it
3-20 RESOLVED, That the 75th Legislature of the State of Texas
3-21 hereby pay tribute to the life of the Honorable Frank M. Tejeda,
3-22 Jr., and extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family: his
3-23 children, Marissa Tejeda, Sonya Tejeda, and Frank Tejeda III; his
3-24 mother, Lillie Tejeda; his sister, Mary Alice Lara; his brothers,
3-25 Juan Tejeda, Ernest Tejeda, and Richard Tejeda; and all the
4-1 relatives, friends, colleagues, and many admirers of this esteemed
4-2 Texan; and, be it further
4-3 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
4-4 prepared for the members of his family and that when the Texas
4-5 Senate and House of Representatives adjourn this day, they do so in
4-6 memory of the Honorable Frank Tejeda.
_______________________________ _______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I hereby certify that S.C.R. No. 12 was adopted by the Senate
on February 3, 1997.
_______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
I hereby certify that S.C.R. No. 12 was adopted by the House
on April 3, 1997.
_______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
Approved:
_______________________________
Date
_______________________________
Governor