By Puente                                             H.R. No. 1435
         77R11380 GMW-D                           
                                 R E S O L U T I O N
 1-1           WHEREAS, It is with a heavy heart that the members of this
 1-2     chamber must bid farewell to a former colleague, the Honorable John
 1-3     C. Alaniz of San Antonio, who passed away on March 26, 2001, at the
 1-4     age of 71; and
 1-5           WHEREAS, This distinguished gentleman was the first Mexican
 1-6     American elected to the Texas House of Representatives from Bexar
 1-7     County, serving from 1961 to 1967; while in office, he championed
 1-8     many significant public service issues, introducing the first state
 1-9     minimum wage, food stamp, and bilingual education legislation and
1-10     proposing an amendment to give equal rights to women and
1-11     minorities; and
1-12           WHEREAS, A leader of the civil rights movement of the 1960s
1-13     and 1970s, Mr. Alaniz diligently strived to attain equality for
1-14     all; his substantial efforts helped combat segregation, police
1-15     brutality, and discrimination while ensuring better wages and
1-16     workers' rights; moreover, he fought for the inclusion of
1-17     minorities in the political process, imploring the State of Texas
1-18     to implement the "one man-one vote" federal Voting Rights Act; and
1-19           WHEREAS, Mr. Alaniz was not only an exceptional legislator
1-20     and civil rights leader, he was also an outstanding attorney for
1-21     the San Antonio Independent School District, and he drew up
1-22     legislation making the South San Antonio district the first school
1-23     district in the State of Texas to elect trustees from single member
1-24     districts; and
 2-1           WHEREAS, Throughout his life, Mr. Alaniz devoted himself to
 2-2     his family, sharing many wonderful years with his beloved wife,
 2-3     Sylvia Alaniz, who preceded him in death; his devotion extended to
 2-4     his fellow Texans and to the cause of justice, and countless people
 2-5     in the Lone Star State are better for his having lived; now,
 2-6     therefore, be it
 2-7           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 77th Texas
 2-8     Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of John C. Alaniz and
 2-9     extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family:  to his sons,
2-10     Alfred, Aaron, Jacob, and Robert; to his daughters, Diana, Annette,
2-11     and Rebecca; to his grandchildren and his great-grandchild; and to
2-12     his other relatives and many friends; and, be it further
2-13           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
2-14     prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of
2-15     Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of John C.
2-16     Alaniz.