1-1 1 1-2 SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 165 1-3 WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas takes pride in 1-4 recognizing five outstanding citizens who are being honored by 1-5 the League of United Latin American Citizens Council (LULAC) 1-6 Number 1 during National LULAC WEEK at its Outstanding Community 1-7 Leaders Awards Banquet; and 1-8 WHEREAS, These individuals are well known for their 1-9 exceptional service in their communities and have distinguished 1-10 themselves in their professions; the Honorable Rose Vela, 1-11 Connie Munoz, Dr. Arnold Gonzales, Sr., Daniel V. Alfaro, and 1-12 Rene Rodriguez are being presented with their awards from LULAC 1-13 Council Number 1 on February 19, 1999, in Corpus Christi, Texas; 1-14 and 1-15 WHEREAS, The Honorable Rose Vela has distinguished herself 1-16 in the 10 years since she graduated from law school, first with 1-17 her work as the briefing clerk for Judge Chapa at the 14th Court 1-18 of Appeals in San Antonio and at the 13th Court of Appeals in 1-19 Corpus Christi for Judge Seerden, and then with her private 1-20 law practice; and 1-21 WHEREAS, While gaining legal experience, she also served as 1-22 a board member and president of the Corpus Christi Young Lawyers 1-23 Association and gave generously of her time to act as the treasurer 1-24 for the Court Appointed Special Advocates of Corpus Christi and as 2-1 the chairperson of the Crime Control and Prevention District; 2-2 Rose Vela recently won an election to become Judge of the 148th 2-3 Judicial District Court, a position in which she will undoubtedly 2-4 excel; and 2-5 WHEREAS, Connie Munoz is chair of the Hispanic Women's Network 2-6 and is the owner and manager of JCI Investment Properties; a former 2-7 teacher who retired after a 23-year career, Connie is active in 2-8 numerous civic and community organizations; she is a member of the 2-9 City of Corpus Christi Ethics Commission, the South Texas Institute 2-10 for the Arts, the League of Women Voters, and the South Texas 2-11 Women's Forum; and 2-12 WHEREAS, As chair of the Hispanic Women's Network, she 2-13 has been instrumental in recruiting 110 members for 1998 and 2-14 has kept the organization in an active mode with high media 2-15 visibility; she consistently inspires the organization's 2-16 members to be active in a wide array of civic and cultural 2-17 programs, and under her superior guidance, the organization 2-18 has flourished; and 2-19 WHEREAS, Arnold Gonzales, Sr., Ph.D., is an at-large 2-20 Councilman for the City of Corpus Christi, and a distinguished 2-21 former member of the Texas House of Representatives and public 2-22 schoolteacher, he has served as a board member of the 2-23 Mexican-American Legislative Policy Council since 1983 and has 2-24 been Chairman of the LULAC State Committee on Education since 2-25 1991 and of the LULAC Texas State Legislative Committee since 2-26 1992; he is associated with Capital Consultants of Austin; and 3-1 WHEREAS, His outstanding service on behalf of LULAC 3-2 includes representing the organization throughout Texas with 3-3 respect to educational issues affecting Hispanic children and 3-4 analyzing legislation pertaining to issues relevant to the 3-5 Hispanic community; he has received numerous awards for his 3-6 work on behalf of our state's educational system; and 3-7 WHEREAS, Daniel V. Alfaro, former Assistant United States 3-8 Attorney for the Laredo Division, is in private practice in 3-9 Corpus Christi and is well known for his philanthropic activities; 3-10 after working his way through Saint Mary's School of Law and 3-11 graduating in 1971, he has maintained a thriving law practice 3-12 over the last two decades; he served in the United States Army 3-13 for eight years during the 1960s and was the recipient of a 3-14 number of commendations; and 3-15 WHEREAS, Mr. Alfaro has generously given of his time, energy, 3-16 and funds to the Salvation Army in Harlingen, the Boys and Girls 3-17 Clubs in Brownsville, McAllen, Weslaco, and Corpus Christi, and 3-18 numerous other charities; and 3-19 WHEREAS, Rene Rodriguez is a graduate of Texas Southern 3-20 School of Law and is now an attorney in private practice in 3-21 Corpus Christi; he formerly served as a staff attorney for the 3-22 Federal Trade Commission and for the United States Department 3-23 of Energy; and 3-24 WHEREAS, Mr. Rodriguez is certified in personal injury 3-25 trial law and is a member of the Texas Trial Lawyers Association, 3-26 the American Trial Lawyers Association, and the Corpus Christi 4-1 Mexican-American Bar Association; and 4-2 WHEREAS, These exemplary individuals are a source of 4-3 strength in their community of Corpus Christi and are respected 4-4 for their leadership and many accomplishments, and rightfully 4-5 deserve recognition for their dedication to their professions 4-6 and to their many humanitarian endeavors; Now, Therefore, Be It 4-7 RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 4-8 76th Legislature, hereby commend these five exceptional 4-9 citizens on their achievements and extend congratulations 4-10 to them on their selection as honorees at the LULAC Council 4-11 No. 1 Outstanding Community Leaders Awards Banquet to be 4-12 held on Friday, February 19, 1999, at the Omni Hotel in 4-13 Corpus Christi, Texas; and, Be It Further 4-14 RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution be prepared for 4-15 them as an expression of esteem from the Texas Senate. 4-16 Truan 4-17 Armbrister Gallegos Nixon 4-18 Barrientos Harris Ogden 4-19 Bernsen Haywood Ratliff 4-20 Bivins Jackson Shapiro 4-21 Brown Lindsay Shapleigh 4-22 Cain Lucio Sibley 4-23 Carona Luna Wentworth 4-24 Duncan Madla West 4-25 Ellis Moncrief Whitmire 4-26 Fraser Nelson Zaffirini 4-27 Perry, President of the Senate 4-28 ______________________________________ 4-29 President of the Senate 4-30 I hereby certify that the above 4-31 Resolution was adopted by the Senate 4-32 on February 8, 1999. 4-33 ______________________________________ 4-34 Secretary of the Senate 4-35 ______________________________________ 4-36 Dean of the Senate