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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Over the course of four decades, Paul J. Strelzin |
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has been a prominent member of the El Paso community, making his |
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mark in a range of endeavors that have included education, civil |
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rights activism, public address announcing, and radio |
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broadcasting; and |
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WHEREAS, Born in the borough of Brooklyn in New York City in |
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1937, Mr. Strelzin first arrived in West Texas in the late 1960s; he |
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became a teacher, coach, and administrator in the El Paso |
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Independent School District, and he served as principal at H. E. |
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Charles Junior High School, Lincoln Junior High School, and Bowie |
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High School during his 29-year career in education; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Strelzin has been an outspoken supporter of |
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Hispanic civil and educational rights for a half-century, and |
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during his years as principal at Bowie High in the early 1990s, he |
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spoke out against U.S. Border Patrol practices that routinely |
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targeted Hispanic students based merely on their appearance; and |
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WHEREAS, An avid sports enthusiast, he became well-known to |
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El Paso residents during his 18-year tenure as the public address |
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announcer for Miner basketball and football games at The University |
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of Texas at El Paso; he also filled the same role for other teams at |
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the university, for the El Paso Diablos baseball games, and for many |
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of the other professional sports teams in the area; affectionately |
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known as "the Strelz," he electrified crowds with his boisterous |
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cheers and jokes and particularly with his trademark shout of |
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"MMMMMMinerball!" at the UTEP basketball games; in recognition of |
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his enduring support for local sports, he is being inducted into the |
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El Paso Athletic Hall of Fame in 2009; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Strelzin has used his announcing skills to |
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address important local issues through his work as a radio talk show |
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host; his program Back Talk aired for six years on KROD, and he has |
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worked at a number of other stations; and |
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WHEREAS, In all of his endeavors, Mr. Strelzin enjoys the |
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love and support of his family, which includes his wife of more than |
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40 years, the former Darlyne Valle, and their three daughters, |
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Sandra, Sara, and Laura; and |
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WHEREAS, An individual of diverse talents, Paul Strelzin has |
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contributed to his community through his professional achievements |
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and by taking a stand on important issues, and his work has had a |
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lasting influence on many throughout the El Paso area; 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 hereby honor Paul J. Strelzin for his outstanding |
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efforts as an educator, activist, and broadcaster and extend to him |
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sincere best wishes for continued success; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Mr. Strelzin as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |