R E S O L U T I O N
 1-1           WHEREAS, It is truly an honor to pay tribute to the life of
 1-2     Dr. Cayetano Barrera of Mission, who was a prominent physician and
 1-3     trailblazer in the Mexican-American community in Texas; and
 1-4           WHEREAS, Born December 14, 1894, this esteemed gentleman was
 1-5     the first Mexican-American to graduate from a recognized Texas
 1-6     medical school; he received his premedical education from private
 1-7     tutors and at the "Ateneo Fuentes" in Saltillo, Mexico, before
 1-8     traveling to Mexico City in 1913 to attend medical school; and
 1-9           WHEREAS, His studies were interrupted by the Mexican
1-10     Revolution, but he returned to Texas to study at Baylor University
1-11     from 1915 to 1916, and then he attended Baylor University School of
1-12     Medicine in Dallas for the next four years; he also did
1-13     postgraduate work at Tulane University; and
1-14           WHEREAS, Dr. Barrera set up his private practice in Mission
1-15     around 1920; because no major pharmacies existed nearby, he
1-16     dispensed most of his own medicine, and because the nearest
1-17     hospital, in McAllen, refused him hospital privileges because of
1-18     his race, this determined physician built a 10-bed facility
1-19     equipped with an operating room, delivery room, and laboratory in
1-20     Mission; and
1-21           WHEREAS, Dedicated to his profession, he kept long office
1-22     hours, seeing patients past 10 o'clock at night, and he kept his
1-23     fees to a minimum, often taking produce or goods in lieu of
1-24     payment; and
 2-1           WHEREAS, Known for his great thirst for education, Dr.
 2-2     Barrera extended his studies beyond medicine to become
 2-3     knowledgeable in astronomy, engineering, carpentry, and other
 2-4     fields; and
 2-5           WHEREAS, This brilliant and determined Tejano was fervently
 2-6     patriotic and proud of his heritage as a fifth-generation heir to a
 2-7     Spanish land grant; during World War II he gave medical service to
 2-8     the troops stationed at Moore Field, for which he received a
 2-9     commendation from President Roosevelt; and
2-10           WHEREAS, After many years battling tuberculosis, Dr. Barrera
2-11     succumbed to the disease in 1947 to the deep and profound sorrow of
2-12     all those individuals who knew and had benefited from the
2-13     remarkable talents of this exceptional man; and
2-14           WHEREAS, Dr. Barrera is a true Texas hero for his pioneering
2-15     work in the medical profession in the Rio Grande Valley, his
2-16     self-determination in the face of racial inequality, and his
2-17     insatiable desire for learning; now, therefore, be it
2-18           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 77th Texas
2-19     Legislature hereby honor the life of Dr. Cayetano E. Barrera of
2-20     Mission for his life's work and charitable ways; and, be it further
2-21           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
2-22     prepared for each of his proud surviving children:  Alma B.
2-23     Siporin, Anna B. Guerra, Olga B. Gonzalez,  Velia B. Valadez, Luis
2-24     C.  Barrera, Aida B. Torres, Tula B. Sanchez, Cayetano  E. Barrera,
2-25     and Raymundo Barrera and that when the Texas House of
2-26     Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Dr.
2-27     Cayetano E. Barrera.
                                                                      Flores
                                             _______________________________
                                                   Speaker of the House
               I certify that H.R. No. 1192 was unanimously adopted by a
         rising vote of the House on May 23, 2001.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Chief Clerk of the House