H.R. No. 639



R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS, The Texas House of Representatives is proud to 
congratulate Humberto "Bert" Aguirre of Del Rio on his receipt of a 
Dr. Hector P. Garcia/American G.I. Forum Founders Award; and
	WHEREAS, Established by Dr. Garcia in 1948, the American G.I. 
Forum (AGIF) initially fought for adequate health care for Hispanic 
veterans, though its expanded focus came to encompass education, 
civil rights, and freedom for all Americans; and
	WHEREAS, The prestigious Founders Award pays tribute to Mr. 
Aguirre's extraordinary commitment to the AGIF and his community; 
he is the first Texan to be honored since the award was created 22 
years ago; and
	WHEREAS, This highly esteemed gentleman was nominated by the 
Coastal Bend Area-Women's AGIF of Corpus Christi and the Private 
Felix Longoria Chapter AGIF; a letter in support of his nomination 
was submitted by Patti Maldonado, a teacher from the Del Rio High 
School Learning Center, who cited Mr. Aguirre's exceptional 
volunteer work with the center's patriotism project; in addition to 
assisting students in contacting Del Rio area Hispanic veterans for 
interviews, he helped the students travel to Washington, D.C., when 
their project won them the opportunity to visit the nation's 
capital; and
	WHEREAS, Mr. Aguirre was 16 when he heard for the first time 
the dynamic Dr. Garcia, whose message about the importance of 
securing civil rights and educational opportunity for Mexican 
Americans deeply impressed the teenager and gave him a new outlook 
on life; he went on to graduate from San Felipe High School and 
served in the Korean War as a member of the United States Air Force 
from 1950 to 1953; afterward he earned a bachelor's degree from Sul 
Ross State University and began a doctoral program in political 
science; and
	WHEREAS, Later, while an administrator with the Texas 
Education Agency, Mr. Aguirre was appointed to the U.S.-Mexican 
Border Commission by President Lyndon B. Johnson; during the 
administration of President Richard Nixon he served as Region 5 
director of the Office of Economic Opportunity, with responsibility 
for Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and New Mexico; he 
subsequently held the office of vice president at St. Edward's 
University until his retirement in 1978; and
	WHEREAS, In addition to his involvement with the AGIF, which 
he has twice served as state commander, Mr. Aguirre is presently 
active with the Laughlin Air Force Base restoration advisory board, 
the San Felipe Del Rio Consolidated Independent School District, 
Rotary International, the Del Rio Chamber of Commerce, the First 
United Methodist Church Chorale, and his family's floral design 
business; and
	WHEREAS, Throughout his life, Bert Aguirre has sought to put 
into practice Dr. Garcia's precept, "Education is our freedom, and 
freedom should be everybody's business"; Mr. Aguirre's exemplary 
efforts have helped to advance the education of countless 
individuals, and it is a pleasure indeed to salute this outstanding 
Texan for his unwavering dedication to his community, his state, 
and his country; now, therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 78th Texas 
Legislature hereby congratulate Humberto "Bert" Aguirre on his 
receipt of a Dr. Hector P. Garcia/American G.I. Forum Founders 
Award and extend to him warmest wishes for continued success and 
happiness; and, be it further
	RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 
prepared for Mr. Aguirre as an expression of high regard by the 
Texas House of Representatives.

                                                                         Gallego

                                                  ______________________________
                                                       Speaker of the House     

	I certify that H.R. No. 639 was adopted by the House on May 2, 
2003, by a non-record vote.

                                                  ______________________________
                                                     Chief Clerk of the House