H.R. No. 2284



R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS, The certain knowledge of a life well lived tempers 
the profound sadness that the passing of Miguel "Mike" Zepeda of 
Corpus Christi on October 12, 2003, brought to all who loved and 
respected this distinguished civic leader; and
	WHEREAS, Mr. Zepeda served in the U.S. Army from 1942 to 1945, 
assisting in the liberation of the Philippine Islands and earning 
an honorable discharge; beginning in 1951, he worked for Reynolds 
Metals Company until his retirement in 1984; and
	WHEREAS, Mr. Zepeda helped to organize the USWA Local 4813 
and served as shop steward and local union president; he worked for 
the Coastal Bend Labor Council as a trustee, vice president, 
president, and active delegate; an elected delegate to the AFL-CIO 
Conventions many times over the years, he worked with the American 
Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees Union and was 
an AFSCME Local Union volunteer business manager; moreover, he was 
elected president of the local chapter of the Labor Council of Latin 
American Advancement and was active in a number of special civic 
projects in addition to working in behalf of people in need; and
	WHEREAS, Mr. Zepeda made numerous significant contributions 
to his community through his membership in LULAC Council #1 and 
American GI Forum; a founder of Mexican American Democrats and 
Tejano Democrats, he was elected Democrat precinct chairman in the 
late 1950s and served for decades; he also served as a national 
Democratic delegate in 1984 in San Francisco; in 1997, his many 
years of dedication and hard work were recognized with his 
induction into the Nueces County Democratic Hall of Fame; and
	WHEREAS, Demonstrating an unwavering commitment to social 
justice, Mr. Zepeda was a plaintiff in four suits for Hispanic 
advancement, including ones relating to desegregation of schools 
and single-member city council districts; and
	WHEREAS, With the passing of this distinguished gentleman, 
the State of Texas has lost an esteemed leader and civil rights 
activist, but with his life, the people of Texas have gained an 
immeasurable legacy of good works that will benefit generations to 
come; now, therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 79th Texas 
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Miguel "Mike" Zepeda 
and extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family:  to his 
wife of 49 years, Nina Zepeda; to his daughters, Lupe Zepeda, Alma 
Zepeda, Rosie Barboza and her husband, Andres, Debbie Tamez, and 
Irma Mendoza and her husband, Danny; to his four brothers, 
Sylvestre Zepeda and his wife, Angie, Albert Zepeda and his wife, 
Elvira, Paul Zepeda, and Yndalecio Zepeda and his wife, Yolanda; to 
his two sisters, Beatrice Ortiz and Maria David Guerrero and her 
husband, Daniel; to his grandchildren, Alex Tamez, Nina Tamez, 
Michael Barboza, Christine Barboza, Stephanie Gauna, and Daphne 
Mendoza; to his great-grandchildren, Ethan and Samuel Gauna; to his 
sister-in-law, Juana Zepeda; and to his other relatives and many 
friends; 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 Miguel 
"Mike" Zepeda.

                                                                            Luna


                                                  ______________________________
                                                       Speaker of the House     

	I certify that H.R. No. 2284 was unanimously adopted by a 
rising vote of the House on May 30, 2005.

                                                  ______________________________
                                                     Chief Clerk of the House