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CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, The passing of former state representative Leopoldo |
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Alvarado, Jr., on June 5, 2009, at the age of 70, has profoundly |
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saddened the legal and legislative communities and citizens |
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throughout San Antonio and brought a great loss to his family and |
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friends; and |
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WHEREAS, Born in San Antonio on April 23, 1939, Leo Alvarado |
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was the son of Maria del Refugio Farias de Alvarado and Leopoldo |
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Alvarado, Sr.; he grew up on the West Side and graduated from |
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Jefferson High School before enlisting in the United States Air |
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Force; following his service to his country, he enrolled in |
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St. Mary's University, where he earned his bachelor's degree in |
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political science and accounting and went on to receive his law |
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degree in 1974; and |
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WHEREAS, This dedicated community activist helped organize |
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the J.F.K. Community Forum, which laid the groundwork for West San |
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Antonio agencies engaged in the war on poverty, and served as |
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consultant to the Inner City Apostolate and as a director of Mexican |
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American Unity Council and of Project Health and Viable Economics; |
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he was vice chair of the board of the Bexar County Hospital District |
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and worked toward the purchase and reopening of Lutheran General |
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Hospital to serve downtown residents; and |
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WHEREAS, Highly respected in his legal career, Mr. Alvarado |
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handled many complex injury and public interest cases; he played an |
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important role in landmark Edgewood ISD cases involving the |
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redistribution of funds from wealthy to poorer school districts, |
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which ultimately led to increased support for education in lower |
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income communities; he was a partner in Weir & Alvarado, P.C., |
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before forming Alvarado & Alvarado, P.L.L.C., with his daughter, |
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Rosemarie Alvarado-Hawkins; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Alvarado was first elected to the Texas House of |
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Representatives in 1992 and served the people of District 116 for |
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eight years; during his tenure, he was chair of the Freshman House |
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Caucus and was a valued member of the civil practices, house |
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administration, state affairs, redistricting, insurance, and |
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judicial affairs committees; a man of principle and integrity, he |
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worked to improve the lives of all Texans, including introducing |
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bills relating to high school education and redlining in the |
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insurance industries, among numerous others; and |
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WHEREAS, A devoted and loving father, Mr. Alvarado most |
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enjoyed spending time with his family, whom he placed first in all |
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matters; he was also fond of hunting, fishing, playing guitar, |
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cooking, painting, gardening, and travel; and |
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WHEREAS, Leo Alvarado leaves a legacy of accomplishments that |
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will continue to benefit people in this state for years to come, and |
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he will long be remembered with deep affection and admiration by all |
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who were fortunate enough to share in the richness of his life; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the 81st Legislature of the State of Texas, |
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1st Called Session, hereby pay tribute to the memory of Leopoldo |
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Alvarado, Jr., and extend sincere sympathy to the members of his |
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family: to his brother, Carlos Alvarado; to his first wife, Gloria |
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Acosta Farias, and their son, Leopoldo Alvarado Acosta III; to his |
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second wife, Charlene Alvarado, and their children, Rosemarie |
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Alvarado-Hawkins, Christina Lisa Morales, Miguel Antonio Alvarado, |
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and Carlos Andres Alvarado; to his grandchildren, Maria and Sharet |
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Castillejos and Evangeline and Chloe Hawkins; and to the other |
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family members and friends of this esteemed Texan; 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 his family and that when the Texas House of |
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Representatives and Senate adjourn this day, they do so in memory of |
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Leopoldo Alvarado, Jr. |