SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 575
In Memory
of
Esther Gonzalez-Arroyo Buckley
WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas joins the
citizens of Laredo as they mourn the passing of beloved leader
and education advocate Esther Gonzalez-Arroyo Buckley, who died
February 11, 2013, at the age of 64; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Buckley was a champion of education for all
who took learning seriously from a very young age; at the age of
15, she was graduated as salutatorian from Martin High School in
Laredo; her last act, urging Texas lawmakers to restore funding
to the state's school system, occurred earlier on the day she
died; and
WHEREAS, This mother, grandmother, wife, and mentor came
from generations of educators, and she followed in that proud
tradition; she began as a teacher at Christen Middle School in
1970 and worked for the Laredo Independent School District until
her death; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Buckley believed politics and education were
intertwined; a Republican party organizer, she spoke at national
conventions and local district meetings; former Texas Governor
Bill Clements valued her insights and appointed her to the
Governor's Commission on Women and the Texas Hispanic Advisory
Practices and Ethics Commission; and
WHEREAS, This tireless advocate also commanded national
respect; in 1983, President Ronald Reagan assigned her to the
United States Commission on Civil Rights, where she served for
nine years, and in 1984, she was named one of six outstanding
Hispanic educators by the United States Department of Education
and was recognized in a ceremony at the White House; locally, she
was active in the Association of Texas Professional Educators and
served as a charter member of the Webb County Commission on
Higher Education; and
WHEREAS, A doting mother to her seven children, Trina E.
Bratton, James J. Buckley, Catherine E. Buckley, Christopher E.
Buckley, Rebecca A. Buckley, George A. Buckley, and Jennifer
Buckley Torres, and a proud grandmother to her nine
grandchildren, Samuel J. Bratton, Sean E. Bratton, Rene A. Peña,
Enrique Buckley, Luke Buckley, Emma Buckley, Maximilliano D.
Torres, Elizabeth A. Torres, and Joseph E. Buckley, Mrs. Buckley
left a lasting legacy in Laredo; it was to her hometown that she
returned after being graduated cum laude from The University of
Texas at Austin; she went on to obtain a master's degree from
Texas A&M International University, and she also was pursuing a
doctoral degree at Texas A&M University in College Station; her
achievements will long be remembered, and those who knew her will
forever cherish her warmth, wisdom, and wise counsel; and
WHEREAS, She spent the last day of her life at the Texas
Capitol advocating for the schoolchildren of Texas; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 83rd
Legislature, hereby extend sincere condolences to the bereaved
family of Esther Gonzalez-Arroyo Buckley; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for
them as an expression of deepest sympathy from the Texas Senate,
and that when the Senate adjourns on this day, it do so in memory
of Esther Buckley.
Zaffirini
________________________________
President of the Senate
I hereby certify that the
above Resolution was adopted by
the Senate on April 2, 2013, by a
rising vote.
________________________________
Secretary of the Senate
________________________________
Member, Texas Senate