H.R. No. 1539
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Anita Blair has dedicated half a century to making a
positive difference in the Lone Star State and beyond, and she is
truly an inspiration to her fellow El Paso residents; and
WHEREAS, A native of Oklahoma City, Ms. Blair was born in 1916
and moved with her family to the Sun City, her adopted hometown, in
1924; after graduating from Austin High School, she worked as a
secretary for the Works Progress Administration; and
WHEREAS, The course of Ms. Blair's life was forever changed
on January 26, 1936, when she was blinded in an automobile accident;
determined to regain her independence, she attended Seeing Eye,
Inc., in Morristown, New Jersey, where she was first introduced to
Fawn, a German shepherd that enabled her to sustain her mobility and
move forward with confidence and a renewed hope for a promising
future; and
WHEREAS, In the following years, Ms. Blair earned a
bachelor's degree from Texas College of Mines & Metallurgy and a
master's degree from Texas Woman's College; the first person in El
Paso to use a guide dog, she became widely known as an expert on the
subject, and assisted a number of states in establishing guide dog
schools; she also shared her story with traffic safety schools and
city government groups across the country; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Blair accomplished another remarkable feat in
1953 when she won election to the Texas Legislature; she
cosponsored a bill that allowed women to serve on Texas juries and
worked to improve the lives of disadvantaged individuals, the
educational system, and guide dog access in facilities throughout
the state; and
WHEREAS, Historians believe that Ms. Blair remains the only
totally blind woman in the United States to ever win election to a
legislative office; following her service in the Texas House, she
continued to advance the rights of the disenfranchised as an active
participant in local and national politics, and today she remains a
valued resource for the El Paso City Council, the County
Commissioners Board, and local school boards; and
WHEREAS, Anita Blair's life has not been defined by tragic
circumstance; rather, she has conquered every challenge she has
faced with unflinching optimism, steadfast courage, disciplined
determination, and the certain knowledge that her efforts could
provide a better future for others; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas
Legislature hereby commend Anita Blair for her decades of service
to her fellow Texans and extend to her sincere best wishes for the
future; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Ms. Blair as an expression of high regard by the Texas
House of Representatives.
Chavez
Moody
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 1539 was adopted by the House on April
30, 2009, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House