R E S O L U T I O N
1-1 WHEREAS, It is with great pleasure that we welcome Pedro
1-2 Martinez to the house chamber today, for his story is one that will
1-3 inspire and inform all who listen; and
1-4 WHEREAS, In June 1993, Mr. Martinez's life was changed
1-5 forevermore when he was injured and paralyzed at the age of 27 in a
1-6 devastating accident; after emerging from a coma, he received
1-7 rehabilitative therapy for six months before being moved to a
1-8 nursing home to live out his days among the center's elderly
1-9 residents; and
1-10 WHEREAS, Refusing to give in to the fear and helplessness
1-11 that would envelop anyone under such dire circumstances, this
1-12 remarkable young man did not give up and began to explore countless
1-13 avenues by which he could begin to reclaim his life and gain his
1-14 independence; and
1-15 WHEREAS, Six months ago, Mr. Martinez found speech therapist
1-16 Elizabeth Erickson of the Panhandle Independent Living Center, who
1-17 has worked with him to help him find the assistive technology and
1-18 funding he needs to communicate again without the aid of a
1-19 translator; and
1-20 WHEREAS, Today, his dream of resuming a career is becoming a
1-21 reality; he received his computer last week and the Panhandle
1-22 Independent Living Center will now be able to provide him with
1-23 vocational training to work again; and
1-24 WHEREAS, For six years, Pedro Martinez has challenged
2-1 adversity and he has overcome each new obstacle that has been
2-2 placed in his way with courage and perseverance; and
2-3 WHEREAS, In charting the course of his life, Pedro Martinez
2-4 plans to become a spokesperson for the nearly 9,000 Texans who
2-5 find themselves in similar situations; to this end, he hopes to
2-6 increase public awareness of measures such as the Micasa Bill
2-7 pending before the United States Congress and to gain support for
2-8 the funding of assistive technology, independent living centers,
2-9 and community based living programs so that every person will have
2-10 the right to become a productive member of society; now, therefore,
2-11 be it
2-12 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 76th Texas
2-13 Legislature hereby honor Pedro Martinez for his extraordinary
2-14 achievements and commend him for his selfless efforts to benefit
2-15 others; and, be it further
2-16 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
2-17 prepared for Mr. Martinez as an expression of highest regard by the
2-18 Texas House of Representatives.
Smithee
Laney Glaze Moreno of El Paso
Alexander Goodman Morrison
Allen Goolsby Mowery
Alvarado Gray Naishtat
Averitt Green Najera
Bailey Greenberg Nixon
Berman Grusendorf Noriega
Bonnen Gutierrez Oliveira
Bosse Haggerty Olivo
Brimer Hamric Palmer
Brown of Kaufman Hardcastle Pickett
Brown of Brazos Hartnett Pitts
Burnam Hawley Puente
Capelo Heflin Ramsay
Carter Hilbert Rangel
Chavez Hilderbran Reyna of Bexar
Chisum Hill Reyna of Dallas
Christian Hinojosa Ritter
Clark Hochberg Sadler
Coleman Hodge Salinas
Cook Homer Seaman
Corte Hope Shields
Counts Howard Siebert
Crabb Hunter Smith
Craddick Hupp Smithee
Crownover Isett Solis of Cameron
Cuellar Janek Solis of Bexar
Culberson Jones of Brazos Solomons
Danburg Jones of Lubbock Staples
Davis of Harris Jones of Dallas Swinford
Davis of Dallas Junell Talton
Delisi Keel Telford
Denny Keffer Thompson
Deshotel King of Parker Tillery
Driver King of Uvalde Truitt
Dukes Krusee Turner of Coleman
Dunnam Kuempel Turner of Harris
Dutton Lengefeld Uher
Edwards Lewis of Tarrant Uresti
Ehrhardt Lewis of Orange Van de Putte
Eiland Longoria Walker
Elkins Luna West
Ellis McCall Williams
Farabee McClendon Wilson
Farrar McReynolds Wise
Flores Madden Wohlgemuth
Gallego Marchant Wolens
Garcia Maxey Woolley
George Merritt Yarbrough
Giddings Moreno of Harris Zbranek
_______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 1235 was adopted by the House on May
27, 1999, by a non-record vote.
_______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House