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78R17375 MW-D

By:  Pena                                                         H.R. No. 1698



R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS, The renaming of the Edinburg Consolidated 
Independent School District's (CISD) Southeast Elementary School 
to the Dr. Thomas Esparza Elementary School offers a fitting 
opportunity to remember the life and accomplishments of this 
Edinburg educator, coach, and civic leader who died on August 3, 
2001, at the age of 80; and
	WHEREAS, Born on May 21, 1921, in Edinburg, Dr. Esparza 
graduated from Edinburg High School, where he lettered in three 
sports, and joined the U.S. Naval Air Corps and played top service 
baseball and football; after World War II, Dr. Esparza earned his 
bachelor of science degree and master of education degree from 
Texas A&I University in Kingsville; years later, in 1977, he 
received his Ph.D. from Clayton University in St. Louis, Missouri; 
and
	WHEREAS, Dr. Esparza taught and coached for 20 years at 
Edinburg CISD schools; he spent another 15 years at Pan American 
University, where he built a commuter intramural program and served 
as director of intramural sports; and
	WHEREAS, One of the first Hispanic coaches in South Texas, 
Dr. Esparza won more than 500 games throughout his career; he 
coached the first American Legion championship team, winning 11 
American Legion championships in total, and he helped to coach the 
first high school baseball team from the valley to attend the state 
tournament; and
	WHEREAS, This distinguished man initiated the Field Day 
Sports Program in the Edinburg school district, started the Panocha 
Bread Cookoff, which is continued today by the American Legion Post 
No. 408, and organized the annual Juneteenth Celebration in 
Edinburg; one of the founders of the Rio Grande Valley Sports Hall 
of Fame, he ensured the organization had a constitution as well as 
tax-exempt status, and in 1991 Dr. Esparza was inducted into the RGV 
Hall of Fame; and
	WHEREAS, Dr. Esparza made young people into champions, and 
the positive influence he had on the Edinburg community, embodied 
by the school which now bears his name, will undoubtedly be of 
lasting benefit to his fellow Texans; now, therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 78th Texas 
Legislature hereby pay special tribute to the life of Dr. Thomas 
Esparza and recognize the many contributions he made to his South 
Texas community; 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 Dr. Thomas 
Esparza.