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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Francisco O. Chapa has rendered exemplary service to |
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his nation, his family, and his community, and he is indeed |
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deserving of recognition for his many accomplishments; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Chapa was born in Sinton on October 10, 1922; he |
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answered his nation's call to duty with service in the U.S. Army |
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during World War II, during which he participated in the Allied |
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D-Day landings at Normandy and fought under General George Patton |
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at the Battle of the Bulge; he received several commendations for |
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his actions, including the Good Conduct Medal, the World War II |
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Victory Medal, the American Theater Ribbon, the |
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European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Ribbon with Silver Star |
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Device, and the Purple Heart with one Oak Leaf Cluster; and |
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WHEREAS, After concluding his military service in 1947, Mr. |
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Chapa returned home, and on February 27, 1949, he married his wife, |
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Virginia; the couple raised six children, and over the years, the |
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family has grown to include numerous grandchildren; Mr. Chapa was a |
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longtime civil service employee at Naval Air Station Corpus |
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Christi; after retiring from that position, he went to work for Del |
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Mar College; and |
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WHEREAS, Dedicated to the ideal of equality in education, Mr. |
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Chapa worked with Dr. Hector Garcia and the American G.I. Forum to |
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bring a discrimination lawsuit against the school district serving |
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the cities of Sinton and Odem; the case, Chapa v. Odem Independent |
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School District, was decided in Mr. Chapa's favor in 1967, and this |
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development marked an important step in the effort to end |
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institutionalized discrimination against Hispanics in the Lone |
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Star State; and |
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WHEREAS, Through his commitment to the greater good and his |
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bravery in both military combat and in the American struggle for |
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civil rights, Francisco Chapa has set an admirable example for |
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future generations, and his work will long be treasured by his loved |
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ones and all who know this admirable Texan; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas |
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Legislature hereby honor Francisco O. Chapa for his contributions |
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as a soldier and citizen and extend to him sincere best wishes for |
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the future; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Mr. Chapa as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives. |