78R18718 WMS-D

By:  Castro                                                       H.R. 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.