SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 70
WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to
join the citizens of Houston and Texans across the state in
celebrating July 27, 2013, as Gus Garcia Day; and
WHEREAS, Gus Garcia Day honors the late Gustavo C. "Gus"
Garcia, an attorney whose work on an array of legal cases played a
vital role in advancing Tejano civil rights; and
WHEREAS, A native of Laredo, Mr. Garcia was born on July
27, 1915; he earned his legal degree from The University of Texas
School of Law and was a legal advisor to the League of United
Latin American Citizens before serving in the military during
World War II; and
WHEREAS, After the war, he turned his attention to a
variety of cases involving public schools, notably Delgado v.
Bastrop ISD, in which the court held that the segregation of
Mexican American children in Texas public schools was illegal; he
also served as an attorney in the Felix Longoria Affair and
helped contract negotiations to secure the rights of workers in
the United States-Mexico Bracero Program; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Garcia is best known for his work on Hernandez
v. State of Texas, in which he became the first Mexican American
to win a case before the United States Supreme Court; this
landmark case held that Mexican Americans and all other racial
groups had equal protection under the 14th Amendment to the
United States Constitution; and
WHEREAS, Gus Garcia had a profound impact on civil rights
in Texas, and it is truly fitting that a day be set aside to honor
his memory and his many contributions to our state; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 83rd
Legislature, 2nd Called Session, hereby pay tribute to the life
and legacy of Gustavo C. Garcia and extend to all those
associated with the First Annual Gus Garcia Day best wishes for a
memorable event; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared in
honor of this special occasion.
Garcia, Van de Putte
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President of the Senate
I hereby certify that the
above Resolution was adopted by
the Senate on July 19, 2013.
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Secretary of the Senate
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Member, Texas Senate
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Member, Texas Senate