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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The passing of former state representative Leopoldo |
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"Leo" Alvarado, Jr., on June 5, 2009, at the age of 70, has |
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profoundly saddened the legal and legislative communities and |
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citizens throughout San Antonio and brought a great loss to his |
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family and 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 a |
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consultant to the Inner City Apostolate and as a director of the |
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Mexican American Unity Council and of Project Health and Viable |
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Economics; he was vice chair of the board of the Bexar County |
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Hospital District and worked toward the purchase and reopening of |
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Lutheran General 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, and he introduced bills |
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relating to high school education and redlining in the insurance |
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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 House of Representatives of the 81st Texas |
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Legislature, 1st Called Session, 2009, hereby pay tribute to the |
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memory of Leopoldo "Leo" Alvarado, Jr., and extend sincere sympathy |
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to the members of his family: to his brother, Carlos Alvarado; to |
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his first wife, Gloria Acosta Farias, and their son, Leopoldo |
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Alvarado Acosta III; to his second wife, Charlene Alvarado, and |
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their children, Rosemarie Alvarado-Hawkins, Christina Lisa |
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Morales, Miguel Antonio Alvarado, and Carlos Andres Alvarado; to |
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his grandchildren, Maria and Sharet Castillejos and Evangeline and |
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Chloe Hawkins; and to the other family members and friends of this |
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esteemed Texan; and, be it 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 adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Leopoldo |
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"Leo" Alvarado, Jr. |