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CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, Dr. Hector P. Garcia of Corpus Christi, the founder |
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of the American GI Forum, earned nationwide renown as a |
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humanitarian and civil rights advocate; and |
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WHEREAS, A native of Mexico, this distinguished physician |
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earned his medical degree from The University of Texas School of |
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Medicine in 1940 before answering this country's call to arms |
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during World War II; he joined the United States Army after |
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completing his surgical internship and attained the rank of major |
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in the medical corps, earning a Bronze Star with six battle stars |
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for his valorous service; and |
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WHEREAS, Following his return to the United States, Dr. |
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Garcia came to the disturbing realization that, despite their |
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courageous service in the military, Hispanic veterans were being |
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denied the benefits they were rightfully entitled to under the GI |
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Bill of Rights; and |
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WHEREAS, Vowing to address this glaring inequity, Dr. Garcia |
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founded the American GI Forum in 1948 to tackle the problems of |
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discrimination faced by Hispanic veterans; as a result of his |
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visionary efforts, the forum grew to become a major civil rights |
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organization that works to register voters, to combat racial |
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stereotyping, and to bring about more equitable judicial |
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proceedings, in addition to participating in many other vital |
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causes; today the organization continues to reflect Dr. Garcia's |
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deep commitment to treating others with dignity and to working |
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within the system to effect change; and |
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WHEREAS, Dr. Garcia went on to provide leadership and |
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expertise in the civil rights arena for several United States |
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presidents, beginning with President John F. Kennedy, and served in |
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a variety of important capacities during the administration of |
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President Lyndon B. Johnson, including membership on the United |
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States National Commission on Civil Rights and on the National |
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Advisory Council on Economic Opportunity; and |
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WHEREAS, In 1984, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of |
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Freedom by President Ronald Reagan, the highest honor that may be |
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bestowed on a civilian, in recognition of his extraordinary |
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service; and |
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WHEREAS, Beloved by the people of Corpus Christi, "Dr. |
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Hector" had a city park, a post office, and a health clinic at |
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Memorial Medical Center named in his honor; in addition, he |
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received the first honorary doctorate conferred by Texas A&M |
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University--Corpus Christi, which also erected a statue of him and |
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dedicated a plaza on campus in his honor; in 1990, he was further |
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lauded for his exceptional endeavors by Pope John Paul II; and |
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WHEREAS, A man of tremendous decency and compassion, Dr. |
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Garcia devoted his life to the service of others, and through his |
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unrelenting efforts the country he cherished achieved a fuller |
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realization of its highest ideals; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the 80th Legislature of the State of Texas |
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hereby call on all Texans to pay tribute to the remarkable life of |
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Dr. Hector P. Garcia on the third Wednesday of September in 2007 and |
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in 2008. |