By Flores H.R. No. 1192 77R16886 MW-D 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.