78R18718 WMS-D

By:  Castro                                                       H.B. No. 1979


R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The State of Texas lost a most distinguished native son with the death of Pete Tijerina, founder of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF), on May 14, 2003, at the age of 80; and WHEREAS, Serving as the state civil rights chairman for San Antonio's League of United Latin American Citizens in the 1960s, Mr. Tijerina was outraged at the lack of representation of Mexican Americans on juries; making a personal commitment of money as well as time to travel throughout the Southwest, he obtained a $2.2 million grant from the Ford Foundation, and MALDEF was born; and WHEREAS, Through his genius and determination, Mr. Tijerina set into motion a quest for justice that continues today; MALDEF is committed to safeguarding the civil rights of the 40 million Latinos living in the United States as the leading nonprofit Latino litigation, advocacy, and educational outreach institution in the country; and WHEREAS, Mr. Tijerina was a native of Laredo and a graduate of St. Mary's Law School in San Antonio; he chose to stay in the Alamo City when MALDEF moved its headquarters to San Francisco in 1970, but he remained committed to the organization's mission of protecting the rights of Mexican Americans throughout his lifetime; and WHEREAS, Pete Tijerina was a man who saw injustice and refused to be denied, helping to open the doors of opportunity for countless Latinos; his work will be a continuing source of inspiration to others for generations to come, and his remarkable spirit lives on in the vital legacy he forged during his time on this earth; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 78th Texas Legislature hereby pay special tribute to the life of Pete Tijerina and extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to his wife, Grace Tijerina; to his daughters, Lynn-Audrey Tijerina and Christina Tijerina; to his son, Peter Tijerina II; to his sister, Minerva Leyendecker; and to the other relatives, friends, and admirers of this esteemed civil rights activist; and, be it further RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Pete Tijerina.