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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The nation lost one of its foremost philanthropists |
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and progressive thinkers with the death of Bernard Rapoport of Waco |
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on April 5, 2012, at the age of 94; and |
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WHEREAS, Born in San Antonio on July 17, 1917, "B" Rapoport |
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was the son of Russian Jewish immigrants David and Riva Rapoport, |
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who instilled in him respect for hard work, a passion for learning, |
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and a profound sense of social responsibility; he earned his |
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bachelor's degree in economics from The University of Texas at |
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Austin, while working full-time in his uncle's jewelry store; in |
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1942, he met Audre Newman on a blind date in Waco, and they were |
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engaged the following day and married within the year; and |
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WHEREAS, This visionary Texan founded the American Income |
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Life Insurance Company in 1951 and focused on offering low-cost |
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insurance policies to labor union workers; the enterprise was |
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extremely successful, and Mr. Rapoport maintained a modest |
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lifestyle while devoting his considerable financial resources to |
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charitable organizations and political action; in 1986, he and his |
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wife created the Bernard and Audre Rapoport Foundation to promote |
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peace, justice, and education; he was a benefactor of the Rapoport |
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Academy in Waco, of McLennan Community College, and of MCC's First |
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Generation College Student Initiative, and as chair of San |
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Antonio-based AVANCE, which helps young families break the cycle of |
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poverty, he guided its development into a national organization; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Over the years, the Rapoports gave millions to |
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UT-Austin; they established the Rapoport Endowment for |
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International and Multidisciplinary Studies in the College of |
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Liberal Arts, the Bernard and Audre Rapoport Center for Human |
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Rights and Justice in the School of Law, and an endowed |
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professorship in health and social policy in the Lyndon B. Johnson |
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School of Public Affairs; through Rapoport Service Scholarships, |
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they enabled students to integrate volunteerism with their academic |
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interests and prepare for careers in community service; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Rapoport was appointed to The UT System Board of |
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Regents in 1991 and served as chair from 1993 to 1997; he advocated |
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vigorously for academic freedom as well as for increased access for |
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lower-income students, and under his leadership, a UT campus was |
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established near working-class neighborhoods in San Antonio; |
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moreover, he promoted the South Texas Border Initiative, which |
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built and expanded campuses in the Lower Rio Grande Valley; and |
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WHEREAS, Fiercely committed to independent journalism and |
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the lively exchange of ideas, he helped sustain the Texas Observer |
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for decades, and he served on the board of its publisher, Texas |
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Democracy Foundation; he was also a stalwart supporter of the |
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Nation, the American Civil Liberties Union, and the public |
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television programs of veteran journalist and commentator Bill |
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Moyers; he underwrote the efforts of a number of nonfiction book |
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authors and supported such progressive enterprises as the Center |
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for the Study of Democratic Institutions, the Institute for Policy |
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Studies, and the Economic Policy Institute; and |
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WHEREAS, Promoting liberal policies in government, |
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Mr. Rapoport was an early fund-raiser for President Bill Clinton |
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and a longtime friend of both Bill and Hillary Clinton; he was a |
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close ally of Governor Ann Richards and supported a host of other |
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Democratic politicians as well, including U.S. Senators Lloyd |
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Bentsen and Ted Kennedy and U.S. Representative Chet Edwards; truly |
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a "Capitalist with a Conscience," as he subtitled his |
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autobiography, Mr. Rapoport accompanied his campaign donations |
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with admonitions to raise his income taxes; and |
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WHEREAS, His circle included widely read columnists, |
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powerful national officials, and other influential figures; while |
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Mr. Rapoport loved to discuss advanced social and economic theory, |
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he was equally comfortable chatting with the staff and customers at |
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his favorite local restaurants; he questioned servers about their |
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education and career plans, advising them to pursue a degree, and it |
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was not unusual for him to contribute to an acquaintance's college |
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fund; and |
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WHEREAS, A devoted family man, Mr. Rapoport shared a |
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fulfilling relationship of 70 years with his wife; he took immense |
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pride in their son, Ronald, and their treasured granddaughters, |
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Abby and Emily; and |
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WHEREAS, Until his final days, Bernard Rapoport dedicated |
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himself to making the world a more just, humane, and caring place; |
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he changed many lives through his wisdom and generosity, and those |
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who were fortunate enough to know him will forever remember his |
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warmth, his wit, and his infinite kindness; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Bernard Rapoport and |
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extend sincere condolences to his loved 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 Bernard |
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Rapoport. |