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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Family and friends will forever treasure their |
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memories of the Honorable Juan Cornejo, civil rights activist and |
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former mayor of Crystal City, who died on January 20, 2021, at the |
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age of 90; and |
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WHEREAS, Born in Crystal City to Espiridion and Ysidora |
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Cornejo, Juan Cornejo grew up with nine siblings, Pedro, Sylvano, |
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Jose, Francisco, Maria, Luis, Robert, Luz, and Christina; he was |
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the proud father of a daughter, Olga, and he also took great pride |
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in his nephew, Jim, and his nieces, Gabrielle and Melinda, whom he |
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raised as his own; later in life, he was pleased to welcome into his |
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family two grandchildren, Ricardo and Cassandra, and seven |
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great-grandchildren, Julissa Brianne, Kalista, Brandon, Guadalupe, |
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Rylee, Mazelle, and Miranda; and |
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WHEREAS, In 1963, Mr. Cornejo played a leading role in the |
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Crystal City Revolts, when Mexican Americans fought for their right |
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to political representation in the city's government; serving at |
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the time as a Teamster representative at the California Packing |
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Corporation cannery, he and four other Mexican Americans ran for |
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city council as "Los Cinco Candidatos" and won despite fierce |
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resistance; Mr. Cornejo was selected from among the five to become |
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the city's first Mexican American mayor, and he served until 1966; |
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during the campaign that led to the famous March on Washington, he |
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was a guest speaker alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. before |
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20,000 people at a Freedom Rally at Wrigley Field in Los Angeles in |
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May 1963; and |
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WHEREAS, A true son of Crystal City, Juan Cornejo won the |
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respect and affection of all who knew him, and he leaves behind a |
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legacy of selflessness and dedication to social justice that will |
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continue to resonate in the years to come; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Juan Cornejo and |
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extend heartfelt sympathy to his family and many friends; and, be it |
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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 Juan |
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Cornejo. |