R E S O L U T I O N
1-1 WHEREAS, Texas has lost a legendary citizen with the passing
1-2 of Dr. Americo Paredes on Cinco de Mayo, 1999, at the age of 83,
1-3 and it is with the utmost respect that the members of this chamber
1-4 honor the memory of this exemplary gentleman and recognize his
1-5 myriad accomplishments; and
1-6 WHEREAS, Born in Brownsville on September 15, 1915,
1-7 Dr. Paredes spent his early years writing poetry and working as a
1-8 professional singer; with the aid of his trusty guitar this eminent
1-9 folklorist would later resurrect songs from the Mexican American
1-10 musical canon that so influenced his youth, thus preserving a part
1-11 of his heritage that might otherwise have been lost; and
1-12 WHEREAS, Dr. Paredes worked as a reporter for the Brownsville
1-13 Herald and attended Brownsville Junior College before serving his
1-14 country during World War II as a reporter and editor of Stars and
1-15 Stripes, the armed forces' daily newspaper; at the war's conclusion
1-16 he remained in Asia, working as a magazine editor for the U.S. Army
1-17 and in public relations for the American Red Cross, and it was
1-18 during that time that he met his beloved wife, Amelia; and
1-19 WHEREAS, The couple returned to Texas in 1951, and
1-20 Dr. Paredes enrolled at The University of Texas at Austin,
1-21 beginning a journey that saw him earn a doctorate in English and
1-22 lay the foundation for a new and compelling Mexican American
1-23 intellectual tradition; one of the dominant voices of that
1-24 movement, he began his 33-year teaching career at The University of
2-1 Texas at El Paso before returning to Austin in 1958 to teach at his
2-2 alma mater; and
2-3 WHEREAS, Dr. Paredes made his name at the university as a
2-4 folklorist, though he was an equally renowned ethnographer,
2-5 historian, and essayist; he played a vital role in establishing the
2-6 Center for Mexican American Studies and the Center for
2-7 Intercultural Studies in Folklore and Ethnomusicology and helped
2-8 those facilities achieve national recognition for excellence; and
2-9 WHEREAS, A highly regarded writer, his first novel, George
2-10 Washington Gomez, has been praised as a brilliant work of satire
2-11 that uncovered many of the prejudices and self-delusions of
2-12 American culture; his best known work, With His Pistol in His Hand:
2-13 A Border Ballad and Its Hero, underscored the injustice and racial
2-14 discrimination of early 20th-century Texas and served as a
2-15 courageous indictment of certain law enforcement professionals; and
2-16 WHEREAS, The influence of Dr. Paredes is evidenced by the
2-17 continued growth of the intellectual movement that he founded and
2-18 nurtured, and his effectiveness as an educator is highlighted by
2-19 the many former students of this visionary scholar who have
2-20 dedicated themselves to increasing awareness of and furthering
2-21 interest in Chicano history; and
2-22 WHEREAS, His hard work was rewarded with a number of honors,
2-23 including the Raymond Dickson, Alton C. Allen, and Dillon Anderson
2-24 Centennial Professorship Emeritus, the Charles Frankel Prize from
2-25 the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Order of the
2-26 Aztec Eagle, Mexico's highest prize for non-Mexicans; he was also
2-27 recognized by the Austin Independent School District, which has
3-1 named a new middle school in his honor, underscoring his longtime
3-2 commitment to educational excellence; and
3-3 WHEREAS, Though he retired as a full-time professor in 1984,
3-4 Dr. Paredes continued to teach and write, sharing his innovative
3-5 thoughts and ideas through lectures and literature while further
3-6 establishing his reputation as a thoughtful and interested
3-7 listener; indeed, much of his understanding of the Mexican American
3-8 folk tradition was gained from the stories and songs of his youth,
3-9 and his passion for learning never waned; and
3-10 WHEREAS, Americo Paredes was a man of compassion,
3-11 intelligence, and dignity, whose immense pride fueled his thirst
3-12 for knowledge and his desire for equality and tolerance, and
3-13 although he will be missed by all who knew him, his spirit will
3-14 surely live on in the hearts and minds of the many individuals
3-15 whose lives he touched; now, therefore, be it
3-16 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 76th Texas
3-17 Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Dr. Americo Paredes
3-18 and extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to his
3-19 wife, Amelia; to his sons, Americo Paredes, Jr., Vince Paredes, and
3-20 Alan Paredes; to his daughter, Julie Paredes; to his brother,
3-21 Lorenzo Paredes; and to the many other relatives and friends of
3-22 this esteemed scholar and teacher; and, be it further
3-23 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
3-24 prepared for the members of his family and that when the Texas
3-25 House of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of
3-26 Dr. Americo Paredes.
Alvarado
_______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 1230 was unanimously adopted by a
rising vote of the House on May 31, 1999.
_______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House