83R6247 JWI-D
By: Martinez Fischer H.R. No. 248
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The Lone Star State lost a passionate activist and
esteemed civic leader with the death of Sylvia Rodriguez of San
Antonio, who passed away on January 23, 2013, at the age of 71; and
WHEREAS, Sylvia Rodriguez first discovered her enthusiasm
for politics while working as an administrative assistant for Texas
state senator Joe J. Bernal during the 1965 legislative session;
soon after leaving the position in 1973, she became actively
involved in the Democratic Party, running voter registration
drives, organizing successful community events, orchestrating
political fund-raising campaigns, and helping women candidates get
elected to office; and
WHEREAS, In 1975, Mrs. Rodriguez became a charter member of
the Mexican American Democrats of Texas, and by 1978 she was
appointed to the Democratic National Committee; the first Hispanic
woman from San Antonio named to the organization, she later became
the founder and first chair of the party's Hispanic Caucus; in 1980,
President Jimmy Carter invited Mrs. Rodriguez to lead the
recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance at the Democratic National
Convention; and
WHEREAS, While she shuttled between commitments in
Washington, D.C., and Texas, Mrs. Rodriguez also served as director
of the annual San Fernando Health and Safety Fair, where she
organized and coordinated hundreds of volunteers to help provide
health screenings and medical consultations to thousands of
uninsured and undocumented people who did not have access to health
care; and
WHEREAS, A proud member of many local and national community
organizations, Mrs. Rodriguez participated in Las Damas de San
Fernando, the Political Divas of San Antonio, Parent/Child, Inc.,
the YWCA, the Inman Christian Center, and the Commission for
Mexican American Affairs; in addition, she was a founding member
and treasurer of the Hispanic Women's Network of Texas and she
organized the first Hispanas Unidas Conference, which more than
1,000 women attended; for her tireless efforts working in behalf of
women, Hispanic Texans, and Americans, Mrs. Rodriguez was inducted
into the San Antonio Women's Hall of Fame in 2011; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Rodriguez's faith sustained her and motivated
her commitment to community service, and she was a Eucharistic
minister and lector at her church; and
WHEREAS, This beloved Texan was supported in all of her
endeavors by her family, including her husband, Gene, who was her
partner in activism and whom she affectionately called "sweet'ert";
the couple enjoyed 45 years of marriage and were blessed with a
daughter, Clarissa; and
WHEREAS, Sylvia Rodriguez was a national Hispanic political
leader, a trailblazing role model for women, and a loving wife,
mother, and friend; though she will be deeply missed, her legacy
will extend well beyond her passing; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas
Legislature hereby honor the life of Sylvia Rodriguez and offer
sincere condolences to her family: to her husband, Eugene
Rodriguez; to her daughter, Clarissa M. Rodriguez; and to her other
relatives and many friends, including Dora Dilley, Jeannette and
Telesforo Gutierrez, Yolanda and John Johnson, Roger Rodriguez,
Nancy Rodriguez and Viviana Enrique, Carol and Larry Medellin,
Elizabeth Rodriguez, and Anthony and Hilda Rodriguez; 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 Sylvia
Rodriguez.