H.R. No. 2430
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The 80th birthday of an esteemed Texan is indeed a
special milestone, and Isabel Garza Brown is celebrating this
joyous occasion on September 28, 2011; and
WHEREAS, Born in Rio Grande City on September 28, 1931, to
Filemon and Guadalupe Garza, the former Isabel Garza is the eldest
of eight children; she is a direct descendant of Miguel Saenz, who
was granted Porcion 73, Los Saenz (Corrales de Saenz) in Starr
County by the King of Spain in 1767; through Mr. Saenz, a true
Tejano, she is also descended from El Cid; and
WHEREAS, During the Great Depression, the Garza family
endured hardship but placed a strong emphasis on education, and
Mrs. Brown graduated fourth in her class at Rio Grande City High
School in 1949; she completed her bachelor's degree in elementary
education at Texas A&I University in 1952, and as the first college
graduate in her family, she set an example of academic achievement
for her children and grandchildren; and
WHEREAS, Through the influence of Florence J. Scott, a former
Roma school superintendent and renowned South Texas historian, Mrs.
Brown developed a great love for the art and discipline of teaching;
early in her career, she taught in rural Escobares and Rosita in
Starr County, where schools of two or three rooms had few, if any,
supplies and used wood-burning heaters in winter; she recognized
children's deep and innate desire to learn and dedicated herself to
their instruction; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Brown espoused a firm belief in the value of a
quality education for all youngsters from kindergarten through high
school, and she emphasized the importance of college, especially
for Hispanics; over the course of a 40-year teaching career, she
contributed to the academic progress of thousands of children in
the Rio Grande Valley; she served in the Hidalgo Independent School
District for 35 years before her retirement in 1992; and
WHEREAS, After concluding her career, Mrs. Brown engaged in
exhaustive genealogical research and authored the definitive book
on her family, Descendents of Miguel Saenz, Garza Family Lineage;
this book has been widely distributed and relied upon by
genealogical scholars, as it completes the only porcion information
missing from the respected 1905 study authored by the Honorable
Francis W. Seabury, speaker of the House of Representatives of the
29th Texas Legislature; and
WHEREAS, This dynamic Texan continues her noteworthy
endeavors with the loving support of her husband, James T. Brown,
her four daughters, Brenda Brown Perez Schell, and Linda, Sharon,
and Elizabeth Brown; and her grandchildren, Sofia Vestweber,
Medardo Perez III, Patricia Theodora Perez, Hannah and Joshua
Flicker, and Claudia, Gabriela, and Max Cortez; and
WHEREAS, Isabel Garza Brown has traveled a long and arduous
path from her humble beginnings in Starr County, distinguishing
herself along the way as an educator, author, and genealogical
scholar; a role model to members of her family and her community,
she continues to inspire others through her example of wisdom,
honesty, hard work, thrift, perseverance, and commitment to
excellence; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas
Legislature hereby congratulate Isabel Garza Brown on the occasion
of her 80th birthday and commend her for her many remarkable
accomplishments; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Mrs. Brown as an expression of high regard by the Texas
House of Representatives.
Pena
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 2430 was adopted by the House on May
30, 2011, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House