H.R. No. 2015

	R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS, A monument honoring the legacy of Tejanos was
	unveiled on the historic grounds of the State Capitol on March 29,
	2012, and in the year since, it has served to educate visitors on an
	important chapter in the story of Texas; and
	WHEREAS, The initiative began in 2000 when Dr. Cayetano
	Barrera, a physician in McAllen, raised a question about the lack of
	recognition for Hispanic contributions to the state in the works on
	the Capitol grounds; he brought his concern to state leaders, and in
	2001, the Texas Legislature passed a resolution calling for a
	statue honoring Tejanos; and
	WHEREAS, Crafted by sculptor Armando Hinojosa, the Tejano
	Monument features life-size figures of a Spanish explorer, a family
	of settlers, and a mustang-riding vaquero herding a pair of
	longhorns; each part of the monument signifies a specific
	historical contribution by Tejanos and their ancestors, whose
	influences continue to be felt in all aspects of daily life; and
	WHEREAS, The grassroots campaign that carried the endeavor to
	completion saw laborious but steady progress over the course of 12
	years, as several administrative hurdles were overcome and more
	than $1 million was collected by private supporters; in 2010,
	design and final state approval was granted by the State
	Preservation Board and bronzing of the statues and site preparation
	could finally begin; two years later, the Tejano Monument was
	unveiled to a crowd of more than 1,000 supporters and much acclaim;
	and
	WHEREAS, The enthusiasm engendered by the monument
	additionally spurred the establishment of the Tejano History
	Curriculum Project, which helps to foster among elementary school
	students a deeper understanding of the significant accomplishments
	of Tejanos over the centuries; undertaken by The University of
	Texas College of Education with the support of corporate,
	educational, and nonprofit partners, the program is slated to
	expand to other universities and to school districts throughout the
	state; and
	WHEREAS, The Tejano Monument was realized in large part due
	to the commitment and leadership of an intrepid group of executive
	board members: Dr. Barrera, president, Homero Vera, Dr. Andres
	Tijerina, and Renato Ramirez, vice presidents, Richard P. Sanchez,
	secretary and treasurer, and Jaime Beaman, director; further aiding
	in its success were advisory board members Benny Martinez, Loretta
	Williams, Aida Torres, William Zermeño, Estella Zermeño, Judge
	Emilio Vargas, and R. J. Molina, along with a host of other
	tireless advocates; and
	WHEREAS, Spanning nearly half a millennium, the history of
	people of Spanish descent in what is now Texas comprises a broad
	spectrum of achievements that have advanced the civilization and
	shaped the cultural identity that so defines the Lone Star State; as
	a tribute to the immeasurable impact of their accomplishments, the
	Tejano Monument serves as a beacon and a source of tremendous pride
	that will continue to enlighten and inspire Texans for generations
	to come; now, therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas
	Legislature hereby commemorate the one-year anniversary of the
	dedication of the Tejano Monument and extend best wishes to all
	those involved with the creation and establishment of the monument
	and the Tejano History Curriculum Project.
	Raymond
	Guillen
	Muñ
	oz, Jr.
	Martinez Fischer
	Hernandez Luna
	King of Zavala
	Straus M. Gonzalez of El Paso Oliveira
	Allen N. Gonzalez of El Paso Orr
	Alonzo Gooden Otto
	Alvarado Guerra Paddie
	Anchia Guillen Parker
	Anderson Gutierrez Patrick
	Ashby Harless Perez
	Aycock Harper-Brown Perry
	Bell Hernandez Luna Phillips
	Bohac Herrero Pickett
	Bonnen of Brazoria Hilderbran Pitts
	Bonnen of Galveston Howard Price
	Branch Huberty Raney
	Burkett Hughes Ratliff
	Burnam Hunter Raymond
	Button Isaac Reynolds
	Callegari Johnson Riddle
	Canales Kacal Ritter
	Capriglione Keffer Rodriguez of Bexar
	Carter King of Hemphill Rodriguez of Travis
	Clardy King of Parker Rose
	Coleman King of Taylor Sanford
	Collier King of Zavala Schaefer
	Cook Kleinschmidt Sheets
	Cortez Klick Sheffield of Bell
	Craddick Kolkhorst Sheffield of Coryell
	Creighton Krause Simmons
	Crownover Kuempel Simpson
	Dale Larson Smith
	Darby Laubenberg Smithee
	Davis of Dallas Lavender Springer
	J. Davis of Harris Leach Stephenson
	S. Davis of Harris Lewis Stickland
	Deshotel Longoria Strama
	Dukes Lozano Taylor
	Dutton Lucio III Thompson of Brazoria
	Eiland Marquez Thompson of Harris
	Elkins Martinez Toth
	Fallon Martinez Fischer Turner of Collin
	Farias McClendon Turner of Harris
	Farney Menendez Turner of Tarrant
	Farrar Miles Villalba
	Fletcher Miller of Comal Villarreal
	Flynn Miller of Fort Bend Vo
	Frank Moody Walle
	Frullo Morrison White
	Geren Munoz, Jr. Workman
	Giddings Murphy Wu
	Goldman Naishtat Zedler
	Gonzales Nevarez Zerwas
	______________________________
	Speaker of the House
	I certify that H.R. No. 2015 was adopted by the House on May 10,
	2013, by a non-record vote.
	______________________________
	Chief Clerk of the House