SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 367

	WHEREAS, Dr. Hector P. Garcia of Corpus Christi earned 
nationwide renown as a humanitarian and civil rights advocate; 
and

	WHEREAS, A graduate of The University of Texas Medical 
Branch at Galveston, this proud patriot joined the United States 
Army during World War II, immediately after completing his 
surgical internship; he attained the rank of major in the Medical 
Corps and earned a Bronze Star with six battle stars for his 
valorous service; and

	WHEREAS, Following his military discharge, Dr. Garcia 
opened a medical practice in Corpus Christi, where he often 
provided free medical care to those who could not afford to pay, 
and saw the effects of discrimination against Mexican Americans; 
and

	WHEREAS, This truly notable Texan established the American 
GI Forum, an organization composed primarily of veterans and 
dedicated to securing equal rights for American Latinos, and 
throughout his life, he worked for such causes as bilingual 
education, school desegregation, job creation, and housing; and

	WHEREAS, The American GI Forum today continues to reflect 
this remarkable humanitarian's deep commitment to treating 
others with dignity and to working within the system to effect 
change; and

	WHEREAS, Long active in politics on the state and national 
levels, Dr. Garcia was named by President Lyndon Baines Johnson 
as a member of the National Advisory Council on Economic 
Opportunity and the United States Commission on Civil Rights and 
as a delegate to the United Nations, and President Ronald Reagan 
awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom; and

	WHEREAS, Beloved by the people of Corpus Christi,
"Dr. Hector" was accorded many well-deserved accolades, including 
having a city park, a post office, and Memorial Medical Center's 
indigent health clinic named for him; in addition, he received
the first honorary doctorate conferred by Texas A&M 
University--Corpus Christi, which also erected a statue of him 
and dedicated a plaza on campus in his honor; in 1990, he was 
further lauded for his exceptional endeavors by Pope John Paul II; 
and

	WHEREAS, A man of tremendous decency and compassion,
Dr. Garcia devoted his life to the service of others, and through 
his unrelenting efforts the country he cherished achieved a 
fuller realization of its highest ideals; now, therefore, be it

	RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,
78th Legislature, hereby honor Dr. Hector P. Garcia for his 
immeasurable contributions as a physician and as a leader in the 
struggle to guarantee civil rights for all Americans.
                                                                        Hinojosa




________________________________ 
    President of the Senate
 
    I hereby certify that the 
above Resolution was adopted by 
the Senate on March 26, 2003.



________________________________ 
    Secretary of the Senate



________________________________ 
     Member, Texas Senate