H.R. No. 875



R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS, On International Women's Day, which occurred on 
March 8, 2005, one remarkable woman, Maria del Socorro Ramirez, was 
on the minds of many Texans whose lives were forever changed by this 
committed civic leader; and
	WHEREAS, International Women's Day is an annual day of 
tribute to women who have fought and advocated for the elimination 
of poverty and violence against their gender, and Mrs. Socorro 
Ramirez was indeed a woman who helped to empower the female 
residents of Sparks, a colonia located about 15 miles west of El 
Paso; and
	WHEREAS, She was a founding member of the Sparks Housing 
Development Corporation, a community-based center dedicated to 
improving the health and well-being of colonia children and 
families through affordable housing development and social 
services; also known as the Centro Socorro Ramirez, this nonprofit 
organization was led by Mrs. Socorro Ramirez as its executive 
director from 1990 until the time of her death in 1996; and
	WHEREAS, A well-known and greatly admired community activist 
who fought for human rights and social justice, Mrs. Socorro 
Ramirez devoted her life to improving the living conditions in the 
colonias and enlightening state and federal agencies on colonia 
issues; and
	WHEREAS, A woman of uncommon integrity, strength, and 
generosity, Maria del Socorro Ramirez gave unselfishly of her time 
to others, and her wisdom, warmth, and valued counsel will never be 
forgotten by those who knew her; her words, Para La Comunidad, or 
For the Community, have left a lasting impression on all those who 
continue to strive to make their community a better place; now, 
therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 79th Texas 
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Maria del Socorro 
Ramirez and join with all those associated with the Sparks Housing 
Development Corporation in remembering her many accomplishments.

                                                                          Chavez

                                                  ______________________________
                                                       Speaker of the House     

	I certify that H.R. No. 875 was unanimously adopted by a 
rising vote of the House on April 7, 2005.

                                                  ______________________________
                                                     Chief Clerk of the House