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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The citizens of Hidalgo County lost an esteemed |
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community leader, legal advocate, and friend to many with the death |
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of Elizabeth M. Garcia on May 5, 2013; and |
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WHEREAS, Born to Lorenzo and Ercilia Garcia, "Lisa" Garcia |
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graduated in 1983 from Pharr--San Juan--Alamo High School, where |
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she served as president of her senior class; she went on to attend |
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The University of Texas at Austin, earning a bachelor's degree in |
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finance and international business in 1987, and to obtain her juris |
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doctorate from Texas Southern University in 1992; and |
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WHEREAS, Beginning her notable career as a briefing attorney |
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with the Second Court of Appeals of Texas, Ms. Garcia continued her |
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record of public service as an assistant attorney general for the |
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State of Texas, as an attorney with the Office of the Texas |
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Comptroller of Public Accounts, and as a prosecutor in the Hidalgo |
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County District Attorney's Office; in 2004, she entered private |
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practice as a civil and personal injury litigator with what would |
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soon become Vidaurri, Lyde, Rodriguez & Haynes, LLP; and |
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WHEREAS, Ms. Garcia served as an outstanding example of her |
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profession, and she was a mentor to many aspiring female attorneys; |
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dedicated to ensuring access to justice, she was a member of the |
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Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, Inc., Board of Directors, and she |
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provided pro bono legal assistance to Volunteer Legal Services of |
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Central Texas; she further contributed to her profession as a |
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fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation, which she served as chair of the |
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District 12 Nominating Committee, and as a member of the Hidalgo |
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County Women's Bar Section; engaged in her community as well, she |
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served as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) and |
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participated in the Hidalgo County Democratic Women of Texas; |
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moreover, she established an endowment to benefit bilingual UT law |
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students from the Rio Grande Valley; along the way, she endeared |
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herself to countless people with her warmth, her ready smile, and |
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her generosity of spirit; and |
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WHEREAS, While the life of Lisa Garcia ended far too soon, she |
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leaves behind a legacy that will forever be treasured by all those |
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who knew and loved her; 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 memory of Elizabeth M. Garcia |
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and extend deepest sympathy to the members of her family: to her |
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mother, Ercilia Z. Garcia; to her brother, Javier Garcia, and his |
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wife, Connie; to her companion, Gary C. Hughes; to her siblings, |
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Anna M. Garcia and Gerardo R. Garcia; to her nephew, Eric; to her |
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nieces, Jennifer, Lauren, and Sabrina; and to her other relatives |
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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 Lisa |
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Garcia. |