SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 321
 
 
  In Memory
  of
  Pete T. Duarte
 
         WHEREAS, The city of El Paso lost an admired civic leader
  and social justice advocate with the passing of Pete T. Duarte on
  February 4, 2023, at the age of 84; and
 
         WHEREAS, Born in Moorpark, California, on June 9, 1938,
  Pete Duarte was the son of Eduardo Simon and Maria Jesus Duarte;
  he labored in the fields alongside his parents and became the
  first college graduate in his family, earning degrees from
  California State College and The University of Texas at El Paso
  and completing the Harvard University Hispanic Health Leadership
  Program; and
 
         WHEREAS, Mr. Duarte served with the Peace Corps in the
  Dominican Republic and then became a health care organizer in El
  Paso for the War on Poverty; recognizing the importance of a
  holistic approach, he united other leaders in founding what
  became the Centro de Salud Familiar La Fe clinic and served for 12
  years as its executive director; in the early 1990s, he became
  CEO of Thomason General Hospital, later University Medical
  Center of El Paso, which was twice named among America's Top 100
  Hospitals during his tenure as "chief servant," his preferred
  title; he also led Project Upward Bound at UTEP, where he helped
  establish Chicano Studies; and
 
         WHEREAS, Over the years, Mr. Duarte garnered numerous
  accolades, and the Pete Duarte Head Start center was named in his
  honor; he returned the prestigious Golden Nugget alumni award to
  UTEP in 2011 in solidarity with students protesting the
  cancellation of the holiday honoring Cesar Chavez, a personal
  hero and role model; the university quickly restored the
  observance; and
 
         WHEREAS, Deeply devoted to his family, Mr. Duarte was a
  loving husband to Joy, and thereafter Irma, and proud father of
  four children, Eduardo, Pedro, Marean, and Lilia; as the adoring
  "Lito" of 13 grandchildren, he shared countless besos and ice
  cream cones; and
 
         WHEREAS, Pete Duarte made a lasting, positive difference
  in El Paso through his vision and leadership, and those he left
  behind will treasure their memories of his warmth, wit, and
  passion for service; now, therefore, be it
 
         RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 88th
  Legislature, hereby pay tribute to the life of Pete T. Duarte and
  extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family and to all
  who mourn his passing; and, be it further
         RESOLVED, That an official copy of this Resolution be
  prepared for his family; and that when the Texas Senate adjourns
  this day, it do so in memory of Pete Duarte.
 
  Blanco
   
   
   
    ________________________________ 
        President of the Senate
     
        I hereby certify that the
    above Resolution was adopted by
    the Senate on March 20, 2023, by a
    rising vote.
   
   
   
    ________________________________ 
        Secretary of the Senate
   
   
   
    ________________________________ 
         Member, Texas Senate