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