By Chavez H.R. No. 824
77R13539 MW-D
R E S O L U T I O N
1-1 WHEREAS, Juanita Quinteros of El Paso has dedicated her life
1-2 to helping others, especially the elderly, and her many
1-3 accomplishments are truly deserving of special recognition; and
1-4 WHEREAS, Mrs. Quinteros started working when she was 14 to
1-5 help support her family; while working, she received a scholarship
1-6 to attend the Jesus and Mary Academy, a business academy, where she
1-7 excelled academically; after graduating in 1947 with honors,
1-8 Mrs. Quinteros was employed by the State National Bank until she
1-9 quit to be a full-time homemaker; and
1-10 WHEREAS, When her children were old enough to go to school,
1-11 she accepted a job as a community developer with Project Bravo in
1-12 1967 and was later promoted to senior citizen coordinator;
1-13 responsible for countless programs benefiting El Paso's senior
1-14 citizens, Mrs. Quinteros organized the first senior citizens group,
1-15 Juventud Del Pasado, secured funding for the first senior citizens
1-16 community center, and participated in an outreach program that
1-17 enrolled 600 senior citizens into the Medicaid program; and
1-18 WHEREAS, From 1971 to 1981 she served as the Texas
1-19 representative to the White House Conference on Aging and was
1-20 renominated in 1981 to serve another decade; in this capacity,
1-21 Mrs. Quinteros accomplished many good works for the elderly and for
1-22 El Paso, including ensuring the creation of the Nutrition Senior
1-23 Citizens Centers and the establishment of the metro system in El
1-24 Paso; and
2-1 WHEREAS, In 1977 she was invited by the League of United
2-2 Latin American Citizens to set up the LULAC Project Amistad
2-3 Program, a protective services project for the elderly; serving
2-4 first as its program coordinator and then as field staff
2-5 supervisor, she helped to set up the foster care program and open
2-6 the first three foster care homes; and
2-7 WHEREAS, In 1986, this esteemed lady furthered her commitment
2-8 to the concerns of the elderly by becoming manager of the Good
2-9 Samaritan Towers, a residential complex for seniors; she
2-10 established the first resident advisory committee and secured
2-11 various city grants as well as donations from Levi-Strauss and the
2-12 Kiwanis Club to make major renovations and improvements to the
2-13 facility; she also helped to create the Fort Bliss Doll Ladies
2-14 Organization and initiated a project that taught English and
2-15 citizenship, helping 53 residents to become U.S. citizens; and
2-16 WHEREAS, Mrs. Quinteros has greatly helped El Paso's needy as
2-17 a member of Project Hungry and by securing the help of FEMA money
2-18 through Project Bravo and Project Amistad; she also organized the
2-19 first youth program, instituted the Day Care Teens Group, and
2-20 brought together different religions through prayer meetings at
2-21 Good Samaritan Towers; and
2-22 WHEREAS, Mrs. Quinteros has given her time and energy to
2-23 various organizations, including the Income Assistance Branch
2-24 Advisory Council, the Client Self-Support Services Advisory
2-25 Council, and the Society for Professionals in Aging; she was
2-26 appointed to serve the City of El Paso as a member of the Mayor's
2-27 Advisory Board on Aging; and
3-1 WHEREAS, This notable Texan has received numerous honors and
3-2 accolades throughout the years; she was recognized by the Retired
3-3 Senior Volunteer Program, the Good Samaritan Society, the El Paso
3-4 City Council, and the State of Texas and attorney general; she also
3-5 was awarded a Certificate of Appreciation by the Texas Department
3-6 of Human Services, the Meritorious Award for Project LULAC Amistad,
3-7 a Certificate of Achievement by the Texas Department of Human
3-8 Resources, and the prestigious Hidalgo Award; and
3-9 WHEREAS, A dedicated civic leader in the El Paso community
3-10 and a diligent advocate for the area's elderly, Mrs. Quinteros is
3-11 undoubtedly admired and greatly appreciated by the countless people
3-12 she has helped throughout El Paso and the Lone Star State, and she
3-13 is most deserving of special recognition; now, therefore, be it
3-14 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 77th Texas
3-15 Legislature hereby commend Juanita H. Quinteros for her life's
3-16 accomplishments and extend to her best wishes for the future; and,
3-17 be it further
3-18 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
3-19 prepared for Mrs. Quinteros as an expression of high regard by the
3-20 Texas House of Representatives.