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SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 124
WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to
recognize William Ruiz, Jr., who is retiring from his position
with El Paso High School after 27 years of outstanding service; and
WHEREAS, An El Paso native, Junior Ruiz was widely
recognized in his youth for his exceptional athletic talents; a
graduate of El Paso High School, he excelled in both basketball
and football and made All-District teams for both sports; and
WHEREAS, He attended Highlands University in Las Vegas,
New Mexico, on a football scholarship and earned a master's
degree in education from The University of Texas at El Paso; and
WHEREAS, He began a 42-year career as a teacher and coach
when he joined Houston Elementary School in 1963; he was then
employed at several high schools before beginning his long tenure
with El Paso High School in 1978; in addition to teaching courses
in physical science, biology, health, and chemistry, Coach Ruiz
has always been a strong advocate for young people; a highly
respected educator, he was appointed by the State Board of
Education to serve on The Commission for Teacher Standards from
1996 to 1999; and
WHEREAS, As a teacher and a coach, he encouraged many young
people to reach for higher goals; as a civic leader in El Paso,
Junior Ruiz has long been known for his dedication to service and
his reliability, and to those who have the good fortune to know
him personally, he is a true and loyal friend; the following are
the words of some who know him best:
Junior Ruiz is a gentle and kind soul who goes
to battle unwillingly. But when he goes to battle,
he is fierce and loyal, and he knows that the battle
is only won when we all win.
Susie Byrd
It is difficult to put in a few words a lifetime
of fears, tears, births, deaths, divorces, joys, and
laughter. Junior has been a close friend almost
from the day we met. We met at Morehead Grade School
in the third grade. He was never, ever, judgmental.
Whatever my problem was, whatever was asked of him,
he never questioned, and the words "no" or "cannot"
were not part of his vocabulary. A close friend and
confidant who has a great love of friends and family,
Junior is a very unique individual, a citizen of the
world.
Herbie
Junior es el mero mero. Dad, granddad,
teacher, friend to all, he is kind and gentle and
fun, but when it's time to fight, he is the one you
want.
Eliot Shapleigh
William Ruiz, Jr., "Junior" to everyone, is
a son, brother, husband, father, grandfather,
teacher, mentor, athlete, communitarian, and
friend. Many of us are some of these; few of us
excel in even a few of these roles; Junior is the
model. Junior's concern for his fellow man is
genuine and is so passionate and unselfish that he
brings out the best in each of us. We all owe Junior
our gratitude for his devotion and friendship and
for a lifetime of service. I feel privileged and
humbled to have known Junior since I was a boy.
Junior is the gold standard.
Raymond C. Caballero
Junior Ruiz is a legend. I am proud to call
Junior and Tessa, his wife of many years, my
friends. I cannot remember ever hearing one
negative thing about this man. He is selfless. He
and Tessa have raised two outstanding daughters, who
are now raising their own fine families. One of the
best character traits I can think of is the ability
to maintain friendships from every phase of one's
life, and Junior Ruiz is still close friends to
people he started school with. And of those of us
who didn't know him until much later, he just adds
us to his wide circle of friends. He has never
forgotten where he came from, yet he has inspired
literally scores of students to aim high and achieve
a higher education.
Liz Rogers
Junior Ruiz is an outstanding El Pasoan who has
selflessly devoted his life to improving the lives
of others. Countless El Pasoans have benefitted
from Junior's community involvement.
Whether it has been by giving advice on the
basketball court, lessons in the classroom, or
performing community service, Junior has helped
to make El Paso the special place that it is.
Steve Ortega
Loyal friend, dedicated teacher, loving
husband and father, and ethical leader are all
phrases that help define this man who somehow
manages to be gentle and strong at the same time.
Susan Urbieta
Junior Ruiz is a selfless El Pasoan who is
always looking for ways to improve his community.
He consistently gives of his time and energy to
involve himself in the civic life of El Paso. He
does so in order to improve the lives of his family
and everyone in the community. He never asks for
recognition; he never asks for compensation; and
when he has completed a task, he looks for a new one.
If everyone in the world were as thoughtful, kind,
optimistic, and deeply caring as he is, what a
beautiful, perfect world it would be!
Veronica Escobar
Tucked in an old glass-enclosed frame, hanging
from a wall on the second floor of the historic
El Paso High School building is an archive that not
many know about or even pay much attention to
anymore. Listed are the El Paso High School career
football records. At the top of one list reads the
name Junior Ruiz, still, after nearly a half
century, he was the greatest quarterback who ever
played for the school. Normally, I wouldn't make
note of this, but what struck me was that Junior Ruiz
has never mentioned this. I have only known him for
a few years and just recently became aware of his
incredible accomplishments. A conversation about
Junior doesn't go by without my learning some other
noteworthy thing about him. Because he is a humble
man and would never be the one to boast or talk about
himself, the conversation is always steered toward
you and your family and the kids. I know him as the
vice chair of the Housing Authority of El Paso.
Others know him as the great educator who inspired
them. Still others may know him as the wise coach
molded right from the "Hank Rockwell" character made
famous in the Chip Hilton Sports Stories.
A person with greater moral energy I have not
met. Boiling at the edge of our city's consciousness
is the search for leaders who represent honesty and
integrity and all that is good about living here in
this wonderful city. Look no further--we have found
that person in Junior Ruiz.
Steve Yellen
My dad taught us lessons throughout our entire
lives, lessons that have become rules of thumb to
live my life by, such as the following:
Be a good listener;
Invest yourself in your city and home;
Be the kind of friend you would like to have;
Dare to make a difference in whatever you can;
Take your right to vote seriously and show up
at the polls;
Paying taxes is a privilege; and
Education is the greatest gift you can give
yourself.
I am a better person for having had those
values instilled in my life, and I strive to pass on
the same legacy to my own children.
Gina Carameros
He's our hero! He loves family, friends, and
El Paso!
Wife
Junior Ruiz is one of the most committed
community leaders that I've met in El Paso.
His agenda is El Paso and making this a better
community, and he will instantly claim you as a
friend and help shoulder your burden should he see
you working for El Paso's betterment. His energy,
passion, enthusiasm, and large heart make him one
of El Paso's true treasures.
Beto O'Rourke
Though my Daddy has retired from his job as a
public school teacher, he has not retired from his
role as my teacher, my mentor, my hero.
Daddy is my teacher who taught me to have
courage--the courage to stand up for what is right,
the courage to speak up when something is wrong, and
the courage to persevere when standing up and
speaking up are not enough.
Daddy is my mentor who mentored me on how to be
a good citizen, how to become actively engaged in
the policy decisions that impact the lives of the
people in my community, and how to be a force for
positive change in the world around me.
Daddy is my hero because after he retires as a
public school teacher, he will still be a teacher
and mentor to the many students he has taught, to the
many athletes he has coached, to his family, and to
his eldest daughter, who loves him very much.
Vanessa Ruiz Boling
WHEREAS, Educator, coach, civic leader, role model,
friend, loving husband, and doting father, Junior Ruiz is an
inspiration to all who know him; he is beloved and respected by
his students and his colleagues in education, and his presence at
El Paso High School will be greatly missed; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,
79th Legislature, 2nd Called Session, hereby pay tribute to
William Ruiz, Jr., a treasured citizen of the City of El Paso
and our state, and commend him for an exemplary career in the
field of education and for his invaluable contributions to El Paso
High School; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for
him as an expression of high regard from the Texas Senate.
Shapleigh
________________________________
President of the Senate
I hereby certify that the
above Resolution was adopted by
the Senate on August 19, 2005.
________________________________
Secretary of the Senate
________________________________
Member, Texas Senate