82R22098 MMS-D
By: Gallego H.R. No. 1675
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Lucy Rede Franco, a longtime, revered educator in
the Presidio Independent School District, is being posthumously
inducted into the first Pioneers and Leaders of the State of Texas
Hall of Honor at the Presidio middle school bearing her name on May
6, 2011; and
WHEREAS, The oldest of five children, Mrs. Franco was born to
Eusebio and Mary Ann Rede on February 3, 1902, in Shafter; she
inherited a great love of learning from her father and her mother,
who is believed to have been the first person of Mexican descent to
teach English in the Big Bend area; a native of Redford, Mary Ann
Rede began tutoring Shafter residents in English for two dollars a
month in 1895, when she was 17; and
WHEREAS, During Mrs. Franco's youth in Shafter, she spent two
years at Sacred Heart Academy, where her academic ability impressed
the Irish mother superior; Mother Tarcisus gave her extra
schoolwork and coached her for the examination that would enable
her to obtain a teaching certificate; and
WHEREAS, In the summer of 1920, Mrs. Franco became the first
Hispanic student to enroll at Sul Ross State Normal College; after a
year's study at Sul Ross, she passed the teacher qualifying exam and
embarked on a lifelong career in education; her first assignment
was a one-teacher school in Redford, where she taught 60 students in
grades one through eight; and
WHEREAS, Several years after assuming that post, the young
schoolmistress met Manuel Franco, a resident of Durango, Mexico,
and the couple exchanged wedding vows on December 31, 1924, in
Redford; their marriage was blessed with eight children, all of
whom became college graduates; and
WHEREAS, Following the birth of her children, Lucy Rede
Franco taught for a while in Shafter, but when the silver mines
there closed, she and her husband took up farming in Redford; they
later moved to Presidio, where Mrs. Franco once more returned to
teaching; and
WHEREAS, In 1956, at the age of 54, Mrs. Franco received her
bachelor's degree from Sul Ross State College; four years later,
she won the Mother of Texas award, an accolade presented by the
American Mothers Committee, and as part of that recognition, she
attended a banquet in New York City celebrating the winners from
every state; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Franco taught for 33 years in the Presidio ISD,
ultimately retiring in 1972; in 1985, eight years after her death,
the Presidio ISD paid tribute to her outstanding service by naming
the Lucy Rede Franco Middle School in her honor; in 2007, family
members established the Lucy Rede Franco Scholarship Endowment and
Fund, which provides grants to Presidio High School graduates
enrolled at Sul Ross; and
WHEREAS, Franco family members from across the state are
gathering at Lucy Rede Franco Middle School on May 6, 2011, to
participate in the induction ceremony for Mrs. Franco, which is
being sponsored by The State of Texas Anniversary Remembrance Day
Foundation of El Paso; and
WHEREAS, An exceptionally dedicated and gifted educator,
Lucy Rede Franco enriched the lives of countless children in
Presidio County, and she inspired in all who knew her a deeper
appreciation of learning and of service to others; now, therefore,
be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas
Legislature hereby recognize May 6, 2011, as Lucy Rede Franco Day in
acknowledgment of Mrs. Franco's significant contributions to the
Lone Star State; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Franco family members as an expression of high regard
by the Texas House of Representatives.