H.R. No. 1159
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Yolanda Garcia Olivarez of Corpus Christi is
receiving a 2009 Sor Juana Women of Achievement award from the
National Museum of Mexican Art, the largest Latino arts institution
in the country; and
WHEREAS, The Sor Juana Women of Achievement awards were
established by the NMMA in 1998 to recognize women of Mexican
descent who have contributed to their communities through the arts,
academia, volunteer work, or civic or professional leadership; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Olivarez, a senior vice president of Wells Fargo
Bank, has distinguished herself as both a finance professional and
a community leader; before joining Wells Fargo in 1995, she built
her career in commercial banking with such companies as MBank,
Corpus Christi National Bank, and NationsBank; and
WHEREAS, In 2001, Ms. Olivarez became the first woman and
first Hispanic elected as chair of the Port of Corpus Christi
Authority; she was first appointed to the port commission in 1997
and served until January 2009; during her tenure, the port
experienced dramatic commercial diversification, and she played a
key role in the establishment of the Coastal Bend Bays Foundation
and in numerous other important initiatives, among them the
construction of a loop rail track around the bulk terminal, of the
Congressman Solomon Ortiz International Center, and of the Gulf
Compress La Quinta Division, facilitation of the federal assumption
of the Rincon Canal and the sale of land to the City of Corpus
Christi for Whataburger Field and the development of adjacent
property for public parking, and development of master plans for
the waterfront in the Inner Harbor and port properties on Harbor
Island and La Quinta; and
WHEREAS, Moreover, Ms. Olivarez was instrumental in the
development of the Joe Fulton International Trade Corridor, the
cold storage warehouse, and the La Quinta Trade Gateway Project, in
the leasing of the Corpus Christi Public Elevator to Archer Daniels
Midland Company, in obtaining federal designation as a strategic
military port, in creating the port's police department, in
commencing trade with Cuba, and in the planning and permitting for
port channel improvement projects; and
WHEREAS, This dynamic Texan has given generously of her time
and talents to myriad civic and community organizations through the
years; since 1995, she has served as treasurer of the Corpus Christi
Community Development Corporation, which she helped create; the
organization has built more than 130 homes for first-time buyers
using community block grant funds; Ms. Olivarez has served as a
member of the board of the Del Mar College Foundation, and she
served as chair of the Corpus Christi American Heart Association
for more than three years; the recipient of numerous accolades, she
was inducted into the Del Mar College Wall of Honor in 2005 and has
been named Businesswoman of the Year by the Young Women's Christian
Association, the Hispanic Women's Network of Texas, and several
other organizations; and
WHEREAS, Through her dedication to her community and her
professional accomplishments, Yolanda Olivarez has demonstrated a
commitment to excellence and has served as an inspiring role model
for many; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas
Legislature hereby congratulate Yolanda Garcia Olivarez on
receiving a 2009 Sor Juana Women of Achievement award from the
National Museum of Mexican Art and extend to her best wishes for
continued success; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Ms. Olivarez as an expression of high regard by the
Texas House of Representatives.
Herrero
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 1159 was adopted by the House on April
23, 2009, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House