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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Residents of Corpus Christi are mourning the loss of |
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longtime education professor David Berlanga, Jr., who passed away |
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on April 20, 2009, at the age of 65; and |
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WHEREAS, The son of Bertha Berlanga and David Berlanga, Sr., |
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who served as a city councilman and Nueces County Commissioner, |
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David Berlanga, Jr., was born on August 14, 1943; he graduated from |
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Ray High School and went on to earn a bachelor's degree at Texas A&I |
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University and a doctorate in education at the University of |
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Michigan; and |
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WHEREAS, Dr. Berlanga was a passionate advocate of education |
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and inspired countless students during his tenure at Texas A&M |
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University-Corpus Christi, where he served for nearly three |
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decades; he not only motivated students to stay the course and |
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graduate from college, but he also devoted much of his time to |
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writing grants that provided funding for textbooks, student |
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stipends, and scholarships; moreover, he encouraged students to |
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master teaching in two languages so they could reach out to children |
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and youth who were not fluent in English; and |
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WHEREAS, This esteemed Texan enjoyed the love and support of |
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his wife, Mary Helen Berlanga, who has served as a member of the |
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State Board of Education for more than 25 years; sharing his concern |
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for education, she worked with him to ensure that students who began |
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school at Crossley Elementary and graduated from high school in |
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2000 would qualify for a scholarship, and to provide scholarships |
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to students who participated in the 2005 HOPE conference; and |
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WHEREAS, Highly regarded by all who were privileged to know |
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him, David Berlanga distinguished himself as a caring, dedicated, |
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and talented individual, and he leaves behind a legacy that will |
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continue to resonate for many years to come; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of David Berlanga, Jr., |
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and extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to his |
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wife, Mary Helen Berlanga; to his children, Christina Whittier and |
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her husband, Gordon, David Berlanga III, Monica Berlanga, and |
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Catherine Berlanga; to his grandchildren, Bryce and Emma Whittier; |
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to his mother, Bertha Hinojosa Berlanga; to his sisters, Mary Alice |
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Gonzales and her husband, Arnold, and Rose Avila and her husband, |
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Robert; to his brother, Jose Berlanga, and his wife, Polly; and to |
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his other relatives and many friends; 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 Dr. David |
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Berlanga, Jr. |