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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Adelfa Botello Callejo has been recognized by the |
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Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law with the |
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institution's highest honor, the Robert G. Storey Award for |
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Distinguished Achievement; and |
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WHEREAS, Mrs. Callejo is a fitting recipient of this |
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prestigious accolade, as she has built a legal career filled with |
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extraordinary accomplishments and meaningful service to her |
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community; and |
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WHEREAS, The child of an immigrant, who instilled in her the |
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value of education, Mrs. Callejo was brought up to believe that |
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helping those less fortunate was the duty of every human being; |
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taking this lesson to heart, she chose to become a lawyer so she |
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could fight for the rights of the disenfranchised, and in |
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fulfilling this noble goal she has not only aided countless |
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individuals, but also distinguished herself as a true trailblazer |
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in the field of law; and |
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WHEREAS, The first Hispanic woman to graduate from SMU law |
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school and to practice law in Dallas, Mrs. Callejo is a partner in |
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the firm of Callejo & Callejo along with her most ardent supporter, |
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Bill Callejo, her husband of 60 years; her many professional |
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successes include winning notable victories for low-income clients |
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and defendants previously denied effective legal counsel, as well |
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as settling multimillion-dollar claims against companies ignoring |
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safety regulations; and |
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WHEREAS, Throughout her outstanding career, she has never |
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wavered from her position as a passionate advocate for the |
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advancement of Hispanics, both in and out of the courtroom; she has |
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funded educational endeavors and community programs and supported |
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efforts to teach new residents about U.S. laws and rights and to |
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educate people in the non-Hispanic community about the plight of |
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immigrants; in addition, she cofounded the Mexican-American Bar |
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Association of Texas and served as a past regional president of the |
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Hispanic National Bar Association; and |
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WHEREAS, This notable Texan has been lauded numerous times |
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for her important work, receiving the American Bar Association's |
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Spirit of Excellence Award and the Texas Peace Officers |
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Association's Humanitarian Award; other honors include the 2006 |
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Sandra Day O'Connor Award and the Hispanic National Bar |
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Association's Lincoln-Juarez Award; and |
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WHEREAS, Mrs. Callejo is an inspiration to all who are |
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privileged to know her, and she is most deserving of special |
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recognition for her decades of selfless service in behalf of her |
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community; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 80th Texas |
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Legislature hereby commend Adelfa Botello Callejo on her notable |
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career, congratulate her on her receipt of the Robert G. Storey |
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Award for Distinguished Achievement from the SMU Dedman School of |
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Law, and extend to her best wishes for the future; and, be it |
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further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Mrs. Callejo as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |