H.R. No. 2430

R E S O L U T I O N

WHEREAS, The 80th birthday of an esteemed Texan is indeed a special milestone, and Isabel Garza Brown is celebrating this joyous occasion on September 28, 2011; and

WHEREAS, Born in Rio Grande City on September 28, 1931, to Filemon and Guadalupe Garza, the former Isabel Garza is the eldest of eight children; she is a direct descendant of Miguel Saenz, who was granted Porcion 73, Los Saenz (Corrales de Saenz) in Starr County by the King of Spain in 1767; through Mr. Saenz, a true Tejano, she is also descended from El Cid; and

WHEREAS, During the Great Depression, the Garza family endured hardship but placed a strong emphasis on education, and Mrs. Brown graduated fourth in her class at Rio Grande City High School in 1949; she completed her bachelor's degree in elementary education at Texas A&I University in 1952, and as the first college graduate in her family, she set an example of academic achievement for her children and grandchildren; and

WHEREAS, Through the influence of Florence J. Scott, a former Roma school superintendent and renowned South Texas historian, Mrs. Brown developed a great love for the art and discipline of teaching; early in her career, she taught in rural Escobares and Rosita in Starr County, where schools of two or three rooms had few, if any, supplies and used wood-burning heaters in winter; she recognized children's deep and innate desire to learn and dedicated herself to their instruction; and

WHEREAS, Mrs. Brown espoused a firm belief in the value of a quality education for all youngsters from kindergarten through high school, and she emphasized the importance of college, especially for Hispanics; over the course of a 40-year teaching career, she contributed to the academic progress of thousands of children in the Rio Grande Valley; she served in the Hidalgo Independent School District for 35 years before her retirement in 1992; and

WHEREAS, After concluding her career, Mrs. Brown engaged in exhaustive genealogical research and authored the definitive book on her family, Descendents of Miguel Saenz, Garza Family Lineage; this book has been widely distributed and relied upon by genealogical scholars, as it completes the only porcion information missing from the respected 1905 study authored by the Honorable Francis W. Seabury, speaker of the House of Representatives of the 29th Texas Legislature; and

WHEREAS, This dynamic Texan continues her noteworthy endeavors with the loving support of her husband, James T. Brown, her four daughters, Brenda Brown Perez Schell, and Linda, Sharon, and Elizabeth Brown; and her grandchildren, Sofia Vestweber, Medardo Perez III, Patricia Theodora Perez, Hannah and Joshua Flicker, and Claudia, Gabriela, and Max Cortez; and

WHEREAS, Isabel Garza Brown has traveled a long and arduous path from her humble beginnings in Starr County, distinguishing herself along the way as an educator, author, and genealogical scholar; a role model to members of her family and her community, she continues to inspire others through her example of wisdom, honesty, hard work, thrift, perseverance, and commitment to excellence; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas Legislature hereby congratulate Isabel Garza Brown on the occasion of her 80th birthday and commend her for her many remarkable accomplishments; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for Mrs. Brown as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives.

Pena

______________________________ Speaker of the House

I certify that H.R. No. 2430 was adopted by the House on May 30, 2011, by a non-record vote.

______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House