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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The life of a beloved educator drew to a close with |
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the passing of Yolanda P. Torres of San Antonio on February 24, |
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2025, at the age of 88; and |
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WHEREAS, The daughter of Rolando and Bertha Parga, the former |
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Yolanda Parga was born in San Antonio on June 13, 1936; her parents |
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were talented musicians, and she grew up with three siblings, Irma, |
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Roland, and Sylvia, in a household that shaped her love for the |
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arts; she studied the accordion with a classical teacher, and she |
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also played the piano, ukulele, and French horn, the latter as a |
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member of the Thomas Jefferson High School marching band; the first |
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in her family to graduate from college, she earned an English degree |
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at the University of the Incarnate Word and a master's degree in |
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psychology at St. Mary's University; and |
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WHEREAS, Ms. Torres began her teaching career with the |
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Edgewood Independent School District in 1957; during her years in |
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education, she taught English with a focus on classical literature, |
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and she served as a journalism instructor and school newspaper |
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sponsor at Fox Tech High School in San Antonio, as the yearbook |
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sponsor at Jefferson Davis High School in Houston, and as the |
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literary club sponsor at Thomas Edison High School in San Antonio; |
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in 1976, Ms. Torres became the first Mexican American woman to be |
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elected to the Texas State Board of Education; she was teaching at |
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Edison when she retired in 2000; among her numerous accolades, she |
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received a Making a Mark on the World Award from the San Antonio |
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Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and she was inducted into the San |
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Antonio Women's Hall of Fame; and |
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WHEREAS, Ms. Torres took great pride in her four children, |
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Denise, Peter, Tina, and Paul, and her grandchildren; she always |
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saw the best in others, and she was a talented poet, oil painter, |
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singer, and pianist who served as choir director for La Trinidad |
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United Methodist Church for many years; and |
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WHEREAS, Admired for her myriad accomplishments and her |
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remarkable ability to connect with students, Yolanda Torres |
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brightened the world for all who knew her, and they will forever |
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hold her close in their hearts; 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 memory of Yolanda P. Torres and extend |
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deepest condolences to the members of her family: to her children, |
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Denise, Peter, Tina, and Paul and his wife, Alisa; to her |
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grandchildren, Tahnee, Peter Michael, and Savannah and her husband, |
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Curtis; to her sister, Sylvia; to her sisters-in-law, Dolores and |
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Sandy; and to her many other relatives 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 Yolanda Torres. |