H.R. No. 596
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The citizens of Del Rio lost a beloved educator and
community leader with the passing of Irene Cardenas Cardwell on
August 25, 2008, at the age of 99; and
WHEREAS, Irene Cardenas was born on April 9, 1909, to Petra
and Serapio Cardenas of Del Rio; she graduated from Del Rio High
School in 1927 and earned a teacher's certificate and master's
degree in education from Sul Ross State Teachers College in Alpine;
and
WHEREAS, In 1932, this esteemed Texan married the love of her
life, Ernest Cardwell, and the couple shared 59 rewarding years of
matrimony; they became the parents of four children, Teresita,
Louis, Thomas, and David, and later had the pleasure of welcoming 10
grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren into their family; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Cardwell made innumerable contributions to the
lives of young Texans during her more than four decades in the field
of education; she taught first grade for over 31 years in the San
Felipe Independent School District, worked as an elementary school
principal for 14 years, and served at length in Washington, D.C., as
a presidential appointee to the National Advisory Council on the
Education of Disadvantaged Children; in 1999, on the date of her
90th birthday, her myriad accomplishments were recognized when
Travis Elementary, where she had previously worked, was renamed
Irene C. Cardwell Elementary School in her honor; and
WHEREAS, Dedicated to bettering her community, Ms. Cardwell
contributed to numerous committees and organizations and often took
on leadership roles in these efforts; a brief list of the groups she
aided includes the March of Dimes, the United Fund Drive, the
Diamond Jubilee Celebration Committee, the Val Verde Memorial
Hospital Women's Auxiliary, and the Val Verde County Library Board,
and there were many others; she also instituted such initiatives as
free citizenship classes with LULAC Council 353 and social
enhancement through the Boots and Bows Square Dance Club, and her
role in the formation of the first Girl Scout troop in her district
earned her the title of "Woman of Distinction" from the Girl Scouts
El Camino Council; and
WHEREAS, Many other accolades were conferred upon Ms.
Cardwell throughout her remarkable life; she was honored by the
Texas House of Representatives, by two Texas governors, by
President Richard Nixon for her service to disadvantaged children,
and by President Harry Truman for her contributions to the
Selective Service System; her contributions in education were
further acknowledged by the American Association of University
Women and the Texas Congress of Parents and Teachers, and her
diligent work in service to her church earned her the Archbishop
Francis Furey Bronze Medal as well as other honors; moreover, she
was named Lions Club Citizen of the Year, given the community
service award by the Knights of Columbus, and recognized by the U.S.
Department of Justice Immigration and Naturalization Service as
well as Casa de la Cultura in Del Rio; and
WHEREAS, Irene Cardwell led an accomplished, purposeful life
and inspired countless people with her words and deeds; although
she is deeply missed, her legacy of diligence, faith, and service to
her community will long resonate in Texas and throughout the
nation; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Irene Cardenas
Cardwell and extend sincere sympathy to the members of her family:
to her children, Louis Ernest Cardwell, Teresita Cardwell Rodriguez
and her husband, Donato, Thomas E. Cardwell and his wife, Libby, and
David E. Cardwell and his wife, Peggy; to her brother, Jesus
Cardenas; to her grandchildren, Donato Rodriguez III and his wife,
Dana, Linda Donovan and her husband, Jim, Tess Tejan, Louis
Cardwell and his wife, Pam, Nelson Cardwell and his wife, Rhonda,
and John, William, Belia, Ernest, and Theresa Cardwell; to her 14
great-grandchildren; and to her other relatives and friends; and,
be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for her family and that when the Texas House of
Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Irene
Cardwell.
Gallego
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 596 was unanimously adopted by a
rising vote of the House on March 5, 2009.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House