82R25466 JNC-D
By: Munoz, Jr. H.R. No. 1839
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Accomplished attorney and dedicated civic leader
R. P. Sanchez has made a lasting and positive difference in his
South Texas community and beyond; and
WHEREAS, Raised in Laredo, Bob Sanchez earned a scholarship
to St. Joseph's Academy, where he was captain of the varsity
basketball squad and named to the Hall of Fame as Most Loyal
Student; following his graduation, he joined the U.S. Navy and
served in the Office of Naval Intelligence in Washington, D.C.; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Sanchez earned his bachelor's degree from The
University of Texas with the help of the GI Bill in 1950; as an
undergraduate, he promoted civil rights and civil liberties as
president of the Laredo Club, and he went on to earn his doctorate
in jurisprudence from South Texas College of Law; and
WHEREAS, A founding member of the American GI Forum, Mr.
Sanchez is dedicated to its mission of improving the life situation
of military service veterans, and he served as the organization's
first Texas state vice commander and legal counsel and as chair on
the committee on migratory labor; he also helped organize a youth
chapter in San Juan; and
WHEREAS, He is a noted political activist, especially
involved in issues relating to civil rights for Mexican Americans;
he was the lead attorney for the Elsa-Edcouch High School case in
1968, successfully representing a group of Hispanic students
expelled for participating in a walkout protest of discriminatory
practices at the school, and he was one of the founding attorneys of
the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund (MALDEF) and
of Texas Rural Legal Aid; additionally, he is a former legal counsel
for the Hispanic War Veterans of America, and he held leadership
positions with the National Council for the Spanish Speaking and
earned appointment to the Hispanic Committee of the U.S.
Immigration and Naturalization Service and its successor, the
Federal Advisory Committee on Immigration and Naturalization; he
also worked as Hispanic affairs advisor to the Texas AFL-CIO; and
WHEREAS, For decades, this esteemed Texan has been active in
the Democratic Party; a former president of the Hidalgo County
Young Democrats, he was a member of the executive committee of the
Democratic Advisory Council of Texas and the Democrats of Texas
Club, and he served on the advisory council of the Democratic
National Committee; in addition to helping organize the Viva
Kennedy clubs in support of the John F. Kennedy presidential
campaign, he was campaign manager and state political advisor for
U.S. Senator Ralph Yarborough; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Sanchez has served as the chief consulting
attorney for the consulate of Mexico in McAllen for more than 40
years, and he has benefited residents of South Texas as president of
the McAllen Good Government League, member of the executive
committee of the McAllen War on Poverty committee, and cofounder of
the Human Relations Board of McAllen; he further shared his time
with the local planning and zoning board, the Hidalgo County board
of the Texas Red Cross, and the Lions Club; and
WHEREAS, Through the years, his achievements have been
recognized with a number of honors, including the Member of the Year
Award and the Commander's Merit Award from AGIF, the "Si Se Puede"
Award from the League of United Latin American Citizens, and the
President's Award from The University of Texas--Pan American; and
WHEREAS, Bob Sanchez has worked tirelessly in the defense of
freedom and liberty, and his achievements have helped to improve
the lives of all Texans; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas
Legislature hereby honor R. P. "Bob" Sanchez for his distinguished
career and his service to his community, state, and nation and
extend to him sincere best wishes for the future; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Mr. Sanchez as an expression of high regard by the
Texas House of Representatives.