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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, A life made rich through meaningful service drew to |
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a close when Barbara Ann Kazen of Laredo passed away on March 15, |
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2011, at the age of 70; and |
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WHEREAS, Born in Abilene on January 3, 1941, to James and |
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Virginia Lee Sanders, Barbara Sanders was raised in Albany and |
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Texarkana and attended Texas Christian University before |
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transferring to The University of Texas at Austin; while there, she |
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met George Kazen, and the two were married in Abilene on October 27, |
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1961; and |
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WHEREAS, After moving to Laredo, Mrs. Kazen studied |
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journalism and communications at Laredo Junior College and later |
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took courses in food and beverage management, becoming well known |
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for her catering skills; she was a host, producer, and commentator |
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for a television station in the 1970s, and then turned her attention |
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to philanthropic and nonprofit activities; and |
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WHEREAS, Mrs. Kazen was on the board of Bethany House, a local |
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mission providing food and shelter to those in need, for more than |
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25 years, and she served as the organization's president from 1996 |
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until her death; under her leadership, Bethany House received a |
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grant of nearly $800,000 toward the forthcoming Center for Hope, |
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which will bring new housing units and expanded services; and |
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WHEREAS, A member of the Laredo Federal Emergency Management |
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Agency board of directors, Mrs. Kazen was also a founder and charter |
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member of the Laredo Homeless Coalition and served on the boards of |
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the United Way of Laredo and the Texas Homeless Network; she helped |
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create the South Texas Food Bank's "Kids Cafes," which provide free |
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meals and snacks to low-income children, and she further shared her |
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time and talents with the Women's City Club, the Mercy Regional |
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Medical Center Auxiliary, the local Rotary Club, and numerous other |
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civic and arts associations; moreover, Mrs. Kazen participated in |
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the Society of Martha Washington, and she enjoyed fellowship at the |
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Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, which she served as a lector and |
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Eucharistic minister; in recognition of her contributions to the |
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community, she received numerous awards and honors from |
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organizations such as the Laredo Commission for Women, the League |
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of United Latin American Citizens, the Catholic War Veterans, and |
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the Laredo March of Dimes; and |
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WHEREAS, In addition to her many endeavors, Mrs. Kazen |
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supported her husband in his work as a federal judge, and their life |
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together was enriched by their four children, George, John, |
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Elizabeth, and Gregory; and |
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WHEREAS, Through her diligent and compassionate service in |
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behalf of the homeless and those in need, Barbara Kazen changed many |
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lives for the better, and she will be remembered with great |
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admiration and affection by all who were privileged to know her; |
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now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Barbara Ann Kazen and |
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extend sincere sympathy to the members of her family: to her |
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husband, the Honorable George P. Kazen; to her children, George D. |
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Kazen and his wife, Mary, John A. Kazen and his wife, Hayley, |
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Elizabeth A. Flores and her husband, Michael, and Gregory S. Kazen |
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and his wife, Marcinda; to her brother, James Lee Sanders; to her |
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sisters, Judith Compton and her husband, Edward, and Virginia Dotin |
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and her husband, Larry; to her nine grandchildren; and to her other |
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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 her family and that when the Texas House of |
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Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Barbara |
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Kazen. |