H.R. No. 729
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Rodolfo Mendez was recognized by the Austin History
Center in conjunction with its exhibit Mexican American Firsts:
Trailblazers of Austin and Travis County; and
WHEREAS, Honoring the important contributions made by
Mexican Americans to Central Texas, the Austin History Center and
its association joined with the Austin Public Library to organize
the show, which ran from August 21, 2010, through January 16, 2011;
Mexican American Firsts: Trailblazers of Austin and Travis County
celebrated the pioneering achievements of 32 remarkable men and
women and provided the public with an opportunity to learn more
about their lives; and
WHEREAS, One such individual, Rodolfo Mendez, was honored for
his achievements in the arts; as a young man in East Austin, Mr.
Mendez began to learn flamenco from teachers at the Pan American
Recreation Center, later studying with the Austin Civic Ballet;
during his senior year at LBJ High School, he won first place as a
flamenco dancer in a state talent competition, and he went on to
study in New York with the Martha Graham School of Contemporary
Dance, the American Ballet Theatre, and the Alvin Ailey American
Dance School; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Mendez served in the Peace Corps, dancing with
the national companies in Chile and Costa Rica and developing a
theater and dance curriculum for the schools in Costa Rica; he has
worked as a dancer in off-Broadway shows and in touring companies,
and he earned a Fulbright Scholarship to study flamenco in Spain; in
1978, he founded the Ballet East Dance Company in Austin, where as
artistic director he has choreographed more than 40 original works
and implemented the Preservation of Texas Choreography series; and
WHEREAS, Rodolfo Mendez has made a positive difference in his
community, and his outstanding accomplishments are a source of
pride and inspiration to many people; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas
Legislature hereby congratulate Rodolfo Mendez on his selection as
a Mexican American Trailblazer of Austin and Travis County 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. Mendez as an expression of high regard by the Texas
House of Representatives.
Rodriguez
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 729 was adopted by the House on March
17, 2011, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House