ENROLLED
2019 Regular Session
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 276
BY REPRESENTATIVE LEGER
A RESOLUTION
To express the condolences of the House of Representatives upon the death of David Fermin
Gallegos and to posthumously commend his service.
WHEREAS, the members of the House of Representatives were saddened to learn
of the death of David Gallegos on November 14, 2018, at the age of fifty-three; and
WHEREAS, David was born on May 30, 1965, to Johnny Gallegos and Onofre
Molina in New Mexico; his parents passed away when he was five years old, and he was
raised by his sister, Florence; when David was fifteen years old, they moved together to
Jefferson Parish; a graduate of Grace King High School, David earned his bachelor's degree
from the University of New Orleans; and
WHEREAS, he decided to make New Orleans his permanent home, a city with as
much style, vibrancy, and personality as David himself; David Gallegos was a man of great
character and served his kith and kin as a true friend; he was a staunch advocate for the
disabled and Latino communities in the city of New Orleans and the state of Louisiana; and
WHEREAS, in 2000, he took on the role of program director at the Advocacy Center,
the mission of which is to clear the path to education, employment, housing, voting, health
care, and community services for Louisianians who have a physical, intellectual, or mental
disability, or who are over the age of sixty; he held the position until the time of his death;
and
WHEREAS, during his nearly two decades at the Advocacy Center, he was known
for his drive to assist people with disabilities with every aspect of securing and maintaining
employment, from the application and interview process to developing social skills to
coordinating transportation; he earned the gratitude and respect of thousands of clients and
their families; and
WHEREAS, he served on dozens of committees, including the Greater New Orleans
Disaster Recovery Partnership Executive Committee, the Mayor's Advisory Council for
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Citizens with Disabilities, and the Brain Injury Alliance of Louisiana, for which he served
as vice president; and
WHEREAS, in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, David was helping with recovery
within days after the storm; he and his colleagues from the Advocacy Center repaired houses
ravaged by Katrina; thereafter, whenever there was a threat of a storm for the greater New
Orleans area, David volunteered to help, translating for non-English speakers, living on-site
at shelters to help with intake, reaching out to people who were undocumented who might
not have otherwise gotten the assistance they needed, and helping people with disabilities
any way he could; and
WHEREAS, David Gallegos co-founded the Latino Forum of New Orleans and the
Louisiana Language Access Coalition (LLAC); LLAC was formed to help eliminate barriers
for people for whom English is not their first language; he was a board member of Puentes
New Orleans; formed in 2007, Puentes works to overcome economic, racial, and cultural
divides and to provide Latin American families and communities with the resources,
knowledge, and hands-on opportunities they need to thrive; and
WHEREAS, in 2008, the Advocacy Center recognized David Gallegos with its Tom
Bellanger Award, given to an employee who excels in job performance, positive attitude,
willingness to help, and dedication; and in 2013, the National Football League and Hispanic
Heritage Foundation presented him with the Leadership Award for his contributions to the
New Orleans community; and
WHEREAS, his work with the Governor's Employment First Task Force helped pave
the way to Governor Edwards's executive order, issued in April of 2018, outlining steps to
improve employment rates for Louisiana residents with disabilities; and
WHEREAS, wherever he went, David was the life of the party; he relished spending
holidays with friends, especially Mardi Gras and Halloween; he was an avid bargain hunter
and thrift shopper and enjoyed tending to his garden; and
WHEREAS, left to cherish David's memory are his siblings, Florence Gallegos,
Arnold Gallegos, and Darlene Rodriguez; and numerous nieces, nephews, friends, and
former colleagues and clients; and
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WHEREAS, David Fermin Gallegos will be remembered as a devoted friend and a
loving family member; his efforts toward improving the welfare of his fellow citizens will
forever be cherished.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
Legislature of Louisiana does hereby express condolences on the death of David Fermin
Gallegos and posthumously commend his service; does hereby recognize and record for
posterity his passion for serving others and the impact he made on the New Orleans
community; and does hereby offer prayers for peace and comfort to those who mourn the
loss of David Gallegos.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
family of David Fermin Gallegos.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
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