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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Citizens of Starr County continue to benefit from |
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the enormous contributions of esteemed civic leader Manuel |
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Benavidez, Jr., who passed away on March 28, 2009, at the age of 57; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, A former migrant worker, Mr. Benavidez earned his |
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bachelor's degree in bilingual education from The University of |
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Texas-Pan American in 1986 and went on to dedicate himself to |
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improving access to higher education for all; he was appointed as a |
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founding member of the South Texas College Board of Trustees in 1993 |
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to represent Starr County in the development of a new community |
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college district, and he was subsequently elected to his seat for |
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two six-year terms; a powerful advocate, he galvanized the campaign |
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for establishment of a taxing district and the issuance of $20 |
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million in bonds for initial construction of five STC |
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campuses/centers, and during his term as chair, he played a crucial |
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role in the passage of a $98.7 million bond package and a tax |
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increase to fund operating costs of the college; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Benavidez successfully championed many |
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innovative programs to benefit STC and residents of South Texas; |
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his leadership at the local and state levels was key to the passage |
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of legislation allowing eligible high school students to dually |
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enroll in college-level technical courses, to the development of |
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the Dual Enrollment Academy for Medical Sciences at STC, to the |
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selection of STC for a pilot bachelor's degree program in applied |
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technology, and to securing appropriations for UT-Pan American to |
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create an upper-level university center in Starr County; moreover, |
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his vision was instrumental in the founding of a technology center |
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at the county STC campus, which was dedicated as the Manuel |
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Benavidez, Jr., Rural Technology Center in 2010; previously, the |
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Starr County Commissioners Court declared November 2002 as Manuel |
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Benavidez, Jr., Month to recognize his remarkable accomplishments; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, At the national level, Mr. Benavidez shared his |
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expertise as a member of the Association of Community College |
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Trustees Diversity Committee, serving two terms as chair; the ACCT |
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gave him its Lifetime Membership Award in 2005, and that same year, |
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he and STC won the organization's Western Region Equity Award; in |
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addition, Mr. Benavidez enhanced quality of life in Starr County |
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through his tireless service on the Lower Rio Grande Valley |
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Workforce Development Board and in myriad other capacities; and |
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WHEREAS, Although it is impossible to gauge the full effect |
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of a life so devoted to the community, the exceptional |
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accomplishments of Manuel Benavidez continue to resonate as the |
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years go by; 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 and achievements of |
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Manuel Benavidez, Jr., and extend sincere condolences to his loved |
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ones; 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 Manuel |
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Benavidez, Jr. |