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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Mixed-martial-arts athlete Roger Huerta of Texas |
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has overcome many hardships to achieve success in his sport and more |
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significantly in life, and his ongoing efforts to reach his goals |
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are a great testament to his determination, courage, and commitment |
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to excellence; and |
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WHEREAS, Born on May 20, 1983, in Los Angeles, Mr. Huerta |
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experienced a childhood marked by poverty, violence, and civil war, |
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and he was ultimately abandoned by his parents before the age of 13; |
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placed in the Texas foster care system, he spent several years in |
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Pharr with the McCarthy family, and their unconditional love and |
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support provided him with his first glimpse of a brighter future; |
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later moving to Austin, he became a top wrestler at Crockett High |
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School, where he met Jo Ramirez, an English teacher, who served as |
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his advocate and guardian; still his guardian angel, Ms. Ramirez |
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today is also very proud to be his mom, having adopted Roger as her |
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son when he was 19 years old; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Huerta earned a wrestling scholarship to |
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Augsburg College in Minneapolis, Minnesota; while studying |
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business management, he began to practice mixed martial arts, also |
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known as "ultimate fighting," a sport that combines wrestling, |
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boxing, kickboxing, and various elements of traditional martial |
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arts; after undertaking several amateur fights, and training with |
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former Ultimate Fighting Championship middleweight champion Dave |
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Menne, he entered the professional ranks in late 2003; calling |
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himself "El Matador," Mr. Huerta holds a professional fight record |
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of 19 wins, one loss, and one draw and has won all three of his bouts |
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in the UFC's 155 pound lightweight division; he is a favorite of |
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fans, who delight at seeing him compete as a proud Latino fighter in |
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the UFC's octagon-shaped ring and who marvel at his endurance and |
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talent; and |
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WHEREAS, In spite of his tremendous success as a professional |
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mixed martial arts fighter, Mr. Huerta remained committed to |
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completing his bachelor's degree, and he graduated from Augsburg |
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College on May 5, 2007; while currently focused on his athletic |
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career, he is also working toward the release of his own clothing |
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line named "Fortitude"; and |
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WHEREAS, Drawing support from his family and his faith, Roger |
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Huerta serves as an inspiring role model for foster youth, Latino |
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youth, and undeniably all Texans, as a man who has clearly already |
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won the most significant fight of his life; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 80th Texas |
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Legislature and State Representative Eddie Rodriguez hereby |
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congratulate Roger Huerta on his graduation from Augsburg College |
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and his success as a professional athlete and extend to him sincere |
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best wishes for all the good fortune he so richly deserves; and, be |
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it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Mr. Huerta as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives. |