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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The Texas arts community lost a true giant with the |
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passing of pioneering mariachi educator Isabel A. Ortiz of San |
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Antonio on July 12, 2023, at the age of 90; and |
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WHEREAS, Born on February 12, 1933, the former Belle Aguilar |
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was the daughter of Guadalupe and Roy Aguilar and grew up on San |
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Antonio's Westside with her brother, Roy; she began honing her |
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musical talents at a young age, playing professionally with Latin |
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orchestras throughout the city, and she went on to graduate from |
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Sidney Lanier High School and Our Lady of the Lake University; in |
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1953, she wed Daniel San Miguel Jr., and they became the proud |
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parents of five children, Leticia, Daniel, Annabelle, Rosanne, and |
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Roland; with the passing years, her family grew to include many |
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beloved grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and |
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WHEREAS, Over the course of her groundbreaking career in |
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education, Mrs. Ortiz started the nation's first high school ballet |
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folklorico program at her alma mater and the country's first |
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mariachi program at Thomas Jefferson High School; her vision and |
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dedicated advocacy helped expand mariachi instruction throughout |
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the Lone Star State, and the art form is now taught at hundreds of |
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schools in the U.S.; and |
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WHEREAS, Mrs. Ortiz and her husband Juan Ortiz founded |
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Mariachi Campanas de America in 1978, and the renowned 12-piece |
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ensemble went on to perform at venues all across the country, |
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including at the White House for five U.S. presidents; the couple |
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was instrumental in establishing the Texas Association of Mariachi |
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Educators and the International Mariachi Conference and Festival; |
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Mrs. Ortiz also gave generously of her time and talents to |
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countless civic and political organizations, and she was inducted |
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into the San Antonio Women's Hall of Fame; moreover, she was a woman |
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of deep faith; and |
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WHEREAS, "The Mother of Mariachi," Belle Ortiz earned the |
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admiration of all who knew her, not only for her work as a musician |
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and educator but also for her exceptional generosity, compassion, |
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and determination, and she leaves behind a legacy that her loved |
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ones can remember with pride; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the 88th Texas Legislature, 3rd |
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Called Session, hereby pay tribute to the life of Isabel A. Ortiz |
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and extend heartfelt sympathy to her family and 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 her family and that when the Texas Senate adjourns this |
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day, it do so in memory of Belle Ortiz. |