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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Former state senator and representative Joe J. |
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Bernal of San Antonio passed away on January 25, 2025, at the age of |
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97, bringing a great loss to his family, his friends, and his |
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community; and |
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WHEREAS, The son of Jose and Antonia Bernal, Joe Bernal was |
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born in San Antonio on March 1, 1927, and he grew up with the |
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companionship of eight siblings; after graduating from Lanier High |
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School in 1944, he joined the U.S. Army and served with the |
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Headquarters Squadron, Pacific Air Command, in Manila and Tokyo |
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during World War II; he attained the rank of sergeant before |
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receiving his honorable discharge at the age of 19; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Bernal earned a bachelor's degree in sociology |
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from Trinity University, and he began his career as an educator with |
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the Kosciusko Independent School District; he went on to teach at |
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elementary schools in Edgewood ISD and San Antonio ISD and to obtain |
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a master's degree in education with a minor in social work from Our |
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Lady of the Lake College; along the way, he was employed as a social |
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worker at the Inman Christian Center for several years; he later |
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received a doctorate in cultural foundations in education from The |
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University of Texas at Austin; and |
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WHEREAS, A passionate advocate for education and civil |
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rights, Mr. Bernal successfully ran for a seat in the Texas House of |
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Representatives in 1964; he was subsequently elected state senator |
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by the people of Bexar County and began the first of two consecutive |
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terms in the Texas Senate in January 1967; over the course of his |
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tenure as a legislator, he championed bilingual education and the |
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end of de jure segregation, and in 1969, he overcame fierce |
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opposition to secure passage of the state's first bilingual |
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education act; he also played an instrumental role in establishing |
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UT San Antonio and the UT Health Science Center, and he helped to |
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build a strong foundation for early childhood education in Texas; |
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among numerous committee assignments, he served as chair of the |
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Senate Committees on Poverty in Texas, Claims, and Federal Programs |
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and Relations; he further distinguished himself as the first |
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executive director of the Mexican American Legislative Caucus; and |
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WHEREAS, While carrying out his duties as a lawmaker, Senator |
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Bernal was employed as executive director for the Guadalupe |
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Community Center and then for the Commission for Mexican American |
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Affairs; an avid supporter of the Mexican American Legal Defense |
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and Educational Fund, he became a founding member of the |
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organization's board in 1968, holding that role for 10 years; in |
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1971, he served as the lead plaintiff in White v. Regester, a |
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successful challenge to Texas' 1970 congressional redistricting |
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plans; and |
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WHEREAS, After concluding his service in the Texas |
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Legislature in 1973, Senator Bernal became an educational |
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researcher for the Intercultural Development Research Association |
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as well as a regional director for ACTION, a federal agency that |
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coordinated volunteer opportunities; beginning in 1982, he served |
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as principal of Emma Frey Elementary School in Edgewood ISD for five |
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years, and he subsequently accepted a position as assistant |
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superintendent for instructional services in Harlandale ISD; and |
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WHEREAS, Senator Bernal was elected to the State Board of |
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Education in 1996, and over the next decade, he continued his |
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efforts to advocate for bilingual education; he worked tirelessly |
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to provide classrooms with Spanish-language textbooks and to have |
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the elementary curriculum translated into Spanish, and he supported |
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the addition of mariachi band competitions to the University |
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Interscholastic League; twice reelected to the board, he served as |
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its vice chair from 2001 to 2003 and chaired the committee on |
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instruction; and |
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WHEREAS, Among his many accolades, Senator Bernal was |
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recognized with the Inspire Award from the SAISD Foundation in |
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2013, and he and his wife, fellow educator Mary Esther Bernal, |
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received the Lifetime Achievement Award from MALDEF in 2009; in |
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2014, Northside ISD named Bernal Middle School in his honor; and |
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WHEREAS, Above all else, Senator Bernal was devoted to his |
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family; he and his wife shared a rewarding marriage of six and a |
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half decades before her passing, and he took great pride in their |
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four children, Richard, Patrick, Rebecca, and the late Barney |
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Bernal; over the years, he was further blessed with eight |
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grandchildren and five great-grandchildren; and |
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WHEREAS, Joe Bernal made a lasting, positive difference in |
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the lives of countless Texans through his exceptional contributions |
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as a public servant, and those who were fortunate enough to know him |
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will forever treasure their memories of his generosity, his |
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strength of character, and his love for his family and community; |
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now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the 89th Texas Legislature |
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hereby pay tribute to the life of the Honorable Joe J. Bernal and |
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extend heartfelt sympathy to his relatives and many friends; and, |
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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 Senate adjourns this |
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day, it do so in memory of Joe Bernal. |