R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, Lydia Handy Ochoa, formerly of Donna, who later 1-2 moved to Edinburg to raise her family and develop a successful 1-3 career, was for many years a migrant farm worker; and 1-4 WHEREAS, Texas has the nation's largest number of migrant 1-5 farm workers, who are a vital part of America's mission to feed the 1-6 world; and 1-7 WHEREAS, Migrant farm working is one of the most difficult 1-8 jobs in our country and requires families to have the courage and 1-9 discipline to find employment under a host of difficult conditions 1-10 and uncertainties; and 1-11 WHEREAS, Mrs. Ochoa helped her parents, Alex and Francisca 1-12 Handy, and her brothers and sisters, by traveling with them 1-13 throughout the country, working the fields of America to help bring 1-14 food to our nation's tables; and 1-15 WHEREAS, When she was not on the road with her parents and 1-16 siblings in search of work, she was a dedicated student, using the 1-17 discipline developed as a migrant farm worker to help her succeed 1-18 in life; and 1-19 WHEREAS, Despite beginning her classes weeks after other 1-20 students and leaving school weeks before most of her classmates 1-21 because of her family's farm working schedule, she never lost her 1-22 desire to be an outstanding student; and 1-23 WHEREAS, Her passion for education led to a remarkable 1-24 college career at Pan American University in Edinburg, where she 2-1 maintained a 4.0 grade point average in her successful quest for a 2-2 university diploma in accounting; and 2-3 WHEREAS, Her career has included a wide range of highly 2-4 skilled positions, including being a successful bank officer, 2-5 serving with an accounting firm, and heading an auditing firm, and 2-6 now she is co-owner of a successful pharmacy chain in Edinburg; and 2-7 WHEREAS, Her many other contributions to Texas have included 2-8 raising a wonderful family with her husband, Joe Ochoa; and 2-9 WHEREAS, Her children, Carlos, 18, Omar, 17, and Alessandra, 2-10 14, love and admire their mother for her strength of character and 2-11 devotion to the well-being of her family and community; and 2-12 WHEREAS, Endeavoring to succeed at an early age and 2-13 overcoming the challenges of migrant farm work to become a true 2-14 American success story is indeed a commendable undertaking; Lydia 2-15 Handy Ochoa has earned the admiration of her colleagues and a 2-16 special place in the hearts of her myriad friends, and she truly 2-17 merits special recognition for her accomplishments; now, therefore, 2-18 be it 2-19 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 77th Texas 2-20 Legislature hereby congratulate Lydia Handy Ochoa on being a role 2-21 model for migrant farm workers and for people from all walks of 2-22 life, and extend to her sincere best wishes for success and good 2-23 fortune in all her future endeavors; and, be it further 2-24 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 2-25 prepared for Lydia Handy Ochoa as an expression of high regard by 2-26 the Texas House of Representatives. Hinojosa _______________________________ Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 1405 was adopted by the House on May 28, 2001, by a non-record vote. _______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House