SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 217


In Memory

of

Reynaldo Guerra Garza


	WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas joins 
the citizens of Brownsville in mourning the loss of the 
Honorable Reynaldo Guerra Garza, who died September 14, 2004, 
at the age of 89; and

	WHEREAS, Reynaldo Garza was born in Brownsville on 
July 7, 1915; he earned an associate in arts degree from 
Brownsville Junior College in 1935, a bachelor of arts degree 
from The University of Texas at Austin in 1937, and a degree from
The University of Texas School of Law in 1939; and

	WHEREAS, Judge Garza was interested in law from an early 
age, and he rose from humble beginnings to become one of our 
state's most prominent jurists; he was in the private practice 
of law in Brownsville from 1939 until 1942; he then served during 
World War II from 1942 until 1945 as a member of the United States 
Army Air Corps; he returned to Brownsville and practiced law from 
1945 until 1961; and

	WHEREAS, President John F. Kennedy nominated Reynaldo Garza
to the United States District Court, Southern District of Texas, 
in March of 1961; Judge Garza served as chief judge of the court 
from 1974 until 1979; he was our nation's first Mexican American 
federal district judge; and

	WHEREAS, President Jimmy Carter nominated Judge Garza to 
the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, and he 
was confirmed by the United States Senate in July of 1979; he 
assumed senior judge status on the court in 1982; and

	WHEREAS, Judge Garza presided over many significant cases; 
his most celebrated civil rights decision was the 1972 Medrano v. 
Allee case, which struck down laws used by the Texas Rangers to 
break up United Farm Workers strikes; and

	WHEREAS, Judge Garza's status as the first Mexican American 
district judge made him a role model for generations of other 
Mexican Americans, and he inspired many to pursue their own 
dreams; he was the first Hispanic federal judge to be the subject 
of a full-length biography; his early life and rise to prominence 
was captured in Louise Ann Fisch's All Rise:  Reynaldo G. Garza, 
The First Mexican American Federal Judge; and

	WHEREAS, He was also a highly respected community leader; 
he was the first Mexican American elected to the Brownsville 
school board, and he worked with the League of United Latin 
American Citizens to improve the civil rights of Mexican Americans


in Texas; in 1977, in recognition of his many accomplishments, 
the Reynaldo G. Garza Elementary School in Brownsville was named 
in his honor; and

	WHEREAS, Judge Garza was a man of integrity, strength, and 
generosity, and he was a devout Christian; he was the recipient 
of the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice medal from Pope Pius XII, and in 
1954, he became a decorated Knight of the Order of Saint Gregory 
the Great; and

	WHEREAS, Judge Garza lived his life to the fullest and was 
a devoted husband, father, and grandfather, and he leaves behind 
memories that will be treasured forever by his family and many 
friends; now, therefore, be it

	RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,
79th Legislature, hereby extend sincere condolences to the bereaved
family of Judge Reynaldo Guerra Garza:  his wife of 61 years, 
Bertha Champion Garza; his children, Reynaldo G. Garza, Jr., 
David C. Garza, Ygnacio P. Garza, Bertha Garza Elizondo, and 
Monica Garza; and his 12 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren;
and, be it further

	RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for 
his family as an expression of deepest sympathy from the 
Texas Senate, and that when the Senate adjourns this day, 
it do so in memory of the Honorable Reynaldo Guerra Garza.
                                                                           Lucio




________________________________ 
    President of the Senate
 
    I hereby certify that the 
above Resolution was adopted by 
the Senate on February 22, 2005, 
by a rising vote.



________________________________ 
    Secretary of the Senate



________________________________ 
     Member, Texas Senate