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.
Martinez Fischer
Straus M. Gonzalez of El Paso Oliveira Straus M. Gonzalez of El Paso Oliveira
Straus M. Gonzalez of El Paso Oliveira
Allen N. Gonzalez of El Paso Orr Allen N. Gonzalez of El Paso Orr
Allen N. Gonzalez of El Paso Orr
Alonzo Gooden Otto Alonzo Gooden Otto
Alonzo Gooden Otto
Alvarado Guerra Paddie Alvarado Guerra Paddie
Alvarado Guerra Paddie
Anchia Guillen Parker Anchia Guillen Parker
Anchia Guillen Parker
Anderson Gutierrez Patrick Anderson Gutierrez Patrick
Anderson Gutierrez Patrick
Ashby Harless Perez Ashby Harless Perez
Ashby Harless Perez
Aycock Harper-Brown Perry Aycock Harper-Brown Perry
Aycock Harper-Brown Perry
Bell Hernandez Luna Phillips Bell Hernandez Luna Phillips
Bell Hernandez Luna Phillips
Bohac Herrero Pickett Bohac Herrero Pickett
Bohac Herrero Pickett
Bonnen of Brazoria Hilderbran Pitts Bonnen of Brazoria Hilderbran Pitts
Bonnen of Brazoria Hilderbran Pitts
Bonnen of Galveston Howard Price Bonnen of Galveston Howard Price
Bonnen of Galveston Howard Price
Branch Huberty Raney Branch Huberty Raney
Branch Huberty Raney
Burkett Hughes Ratliff Burkett Hughes Ratliff
Burkett Hughes Ratliff
Burnam Hunter Raymond Burnam Hunter Raymond
Burnam Hunter Raymond
Button Isaac Reynolds Button Isaac Reynolds
Button Isaac Reynolds
Callegari Johnson Riddle Callegari Johnson Riddle
Callegari Johnson Riddle
Canales Kacal Ritter Canales Kacal Ritter
Canales Kacal Ritter
Capriglione Keffer Rodriguez of Bexar Capriglione Keffer Rodriguez of Bexar
Capriglione Keffer Rodriguez of Bexar
Carter King of Hemphill Rodriguez of Travis Carter King of Hemphill Rodriguez of Travis
Carter King of Hemphill Rodriguez of Travis
Clardy King of Parker Rose Clardy King of Parker Rose
Clardy King of Parker Rose
Coleman King of Taylor Sanford Coleman King of Taylor Sanford
Coleman King of Taylor Sanford
Collier King of Zavala Schaefer Collier King of Zavala Schaefer
Collier King of Zavala Schaefer
Cook Kleinschmidt Sheets Cook Kleinschmidt Sheets
Cook Kleinschmidt Sheets
Cortez Klick Sheffield of Bell Cortez Klick Sheffield of Bell
Cortez Klick Sheffield of Bell
Craddick Kolkhorst Sheffield of Coryell Craddick Kolkhorst Sheffield of Coryell
Craddick Kolkhorst Sheffield of Coryell
Creighton Krause Simmons Creighton Krause Simmons
Creighton Krause Simmons
Crownover Kuempel Simpson Crownover Kuempel Simpson
Crownover Kuempel Simpson
Dale Larson Smith Dale Larson Smith
Dale Larson Smith
Darby Laubenberg Smithee Darby Laubenberg Smithee
Darby Laubenberg Smithee
Davis of Dallas Lavender Springer Davis of Dallas Lavender Springer
Davis of Dallas Lavender Springer
J. Davis of Harris Leach Stephenson J. Davis of Harris Leach Stephenson
J. Davis of Harris Leach Stephenson
S. Davis of Harris Lewis Stickland S. Davis of Harris Lewis Stickland
S. Davis of Harris Lewis Stickland
Deshotel Longoria Strama Deshotel Longoria Strama
Deshotel Longoria Strama
Dukes Lozano Taylor Dukes Lozano Taylor
Dukes Lozano Taylor
Dutton Lucio III Thompson of Brazoria Dutton Lucio III Thompson of Brazoria
Dutton Lucio III Thompson of Brazoria
Eiland Marquez Thompson of Harris Eiland Marquez Thompson of Harris
Eiland Marquez Thompson of Harris
Elkins Martinez Toth Elkins Martinez Toth
Elkins Martinez Toth
Fallon Martinez Fischer Turner of Collin Fallon Martinez Fischer Turner of Collin
Fallon Martinez Fischer Turner of Collin
Farias McClendon Turner of Harris Farias McClendon Turner of Harris
Farias McClendon Turner of Harris
Farney Menendez Turner of Tarrant Farney Menendez Turner of Tarrant
Farney Menendez Turner of Tarrant
Farrar Miles Villalba Farrar Miles Villalba
Farrar Miles Villalba
Fletcher Miller of Comal Villarreal Fletcher Miller of Comal Villarreal
Fletcher Miller of Comal Villarreal
Flynn Miller of Fort Bend Vo Flynn Miller of Fort Bend Vo
Flynn Miller of Fort Bend Vo
Frank Moody Walle Frank Moody Walle
Frank Moody Walle
Frullo Morrison White Frullo Morrison White
Frullo Morrison White
Geren Munoz, Jr. Workman Geren Munoz, Jr. Workman
Geren Munoz, Jr. Workman
Giddings Murphy Wu Giddings Murphy Wu
Giddings Murphy Wu
Goldman Naishtat Zedler Goldman Naishtat Zedler
Goldman Naishtat Zedler
Gonzales Nevarez Zerwas Gonzales Nevarez Zerwas
Gonzales Nevarez Zerwas
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 248 was unanimously adopted by a rising
vote of the House on January 29, 2013.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
Straus M. Gonzalez of El Paso Oliveira
Allen N. Gonzalez of El Paso Orr
Alonzo Gooden Otto
Alvarado Guerra Paddie
Anchia Guillen Parker
Anderson Gutierrez Patrick
Ashby Harless Perez
Aycock Harper-Brown Perry
Bell Hernandez Luna Phillips
Bohac Herrero Pickett
Bonnen of Brazoria Hilderbran Pitts
Bonnen of Galveston Howard Price
Branch Huberty Raney
Burkett Hughes Ratliff
Burnam Hunter Raymond
Button Isaac Reynolds
Callegari Johnson Riddle
Canales Kacal Ritter
Capriglione Keffer Rodriguez of Bexar
Carter King of Hemphill Rodriguez of Travis
Clardy King of Parker Rose
Coleman King of Taylor Sanford
Collier King of Zavala Schaefer
Cook Kleinschmidt Sheets
Cortez Klick Sheffield of Bell
Craddick Kolkhorst Sheffield of Coryell
Creighton Krause Simmons
Crownover Kuempel Simpson
Dale Larson Smith
Darby Laubenberg Smithee
Davis of Dallas Lavender Springer
J. Davis of Harris Leach Stephenson
S. Davis of Harris Lewis Stickland
Deshotel Longoria Strama
Dukes Lozano Taylor
Dutton Lucio III Thompson of Brazoria
Eiland Marquez Thompson of Harris
Elkins Martinez Toth
Fallon Martinez Fischer Turner of Collin
Farias McClendon Turner of Harris
Farney Menendez Turner of Tarrant
Farrar Miles Villalba
Fletcher Miller of Comal Villarreal
Flynn Miller of Fort Bend Vo
Frank Moody Walle
Frullo Morrison White
Geren Munoz, Jr. Workman
Giddings Murphy Wu
Goldman Naishtat Zedler
Gonzales Nevarez Zerwas