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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, John N. Vasquez was recognized by the Austin History |
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Center in conjunction with its exhibit Mexican American Firsts: |
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Trailblazers of Austin and Travis County; and |
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WHEREAS, Honoring the important contributions made by |
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Mexican Americans to Central Texas, the Austin History Center and |
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its association joined with the Austin Public Library to organize |
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the show, which ran from August 21, 2010, through January 16, 2011; |
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Mexican American Firsts: Trailblazers of Austin and Travis County |
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celebrated the pioneering achievements of 32 remarkable men and |
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women and provided the public with an opportunity to learn more |
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about their lives; and |
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WHEREAS, One such individual, John Vasquez, was honored for |
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his achievements in public service; in 1961, Mr. Vasquez applied |
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for a cadet position with the Austin Police Department but was |
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turned down because it was claimed he was too small; he appealed the |
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decision and won, becoming only the fourth Hispanic on the Austin |
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police force; moreover, his appeal set the tenor for a career in law |
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enforcement in which he would challenge the status quo; and |
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WHEREAS, In 1966, he took the promotional exam for sergeant; |
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despite being told by other officers he should not bother, he |
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achieved the second-highest score and became the first Hispanic |
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sergeant in the APD; he was promoted to lieutenant in 1971 after |
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scoring highest on its qualifying exam; with his new rank, he was |
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assigned to the recruiting division, where he worked tirelessly to |
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create a more diverse police force; in 1979, he became the first |
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Hispanic APD police captain and headed the criminal investigations |
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bureau; Captain Vasquez retired in 1989, widely recognized for |
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having broken barriers for Hispanic police on the Austin force; and |
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WHEREAS, John Vasquez has made a positive difference in his |
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community, and his outstanding accomplishments are a source of |
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pride and inspiration to many people; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas |
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Legislature hereby congratulate John N. Vasquez on his selection as |
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a Mexican American Trailblazer of Austin and Travis County and |
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extend to him sincere best wishes for 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 Captain Vasquez as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |