H.R. No. 2716
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Father Harold Rahm is being honored as the inaugural
Segundo Barrio Person of the Year by the Sacred Heart Jesuit Parish
on the occasion of his return visit to El Paso in May 2015; and
WHEREAS, A Tyler native, Father Rahm made an indelible
imprint on South El Paso while serving as an assistant pastor at
Sacred Heart Church from 1952 to 1964; the area was beset by poverty
and gang warfare at the time, but he worked tirelessly to improve
conditions and help young people turn away from destructive paths;
and
WHEREAS, Father Rahm established Our Lady's Youth Center and
persuaded gang members to work out their aggression in the boxing
ring instead of the streets; the facility also offered other
sports, as well as music, bands, theater, and free lunches; in
addition, he founded the Guadalupe Employment Office, the Guadalupe
Thrift Store, the Guadalupe Way of Life Homes, the Tepeyac Credit
Union, and Camp Juan Diego, which provided children with
opportunities to swim, play games, and take lessons in arts and
crafts; earning the nickname "the Bicycle Padre," Father Rahm rode
his bike every morning to deliver breakfast to the homes of the
elderly; and
WHEREAS, By the time he left for a ministry in Brazil, Father
Rahm had created a strong foundation for further progress, and
parishioners continued his good works and taught younger
generations to follow his example; his legacy lives on through
various nonprofit organizations, including the youth center, now
known as Las Alas, and Centro de Salud Familiar La Fe, which was
started by local mothers as the Father Rahm Information and
Referral Services Center; and
WHEREAS, Today, a mural on Father Rahm Street depicts this
beloved clergyman on his bicycle, and his image is also included in
a mural at La Fe Health Clinic; although Father Rahm has been
working in Brazil for decades, the impact of his service in El Paso
continues to resonate in that community, and this accolade is
indeed a fitting tribute to his accomplishments; now, therefore, be
it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas
Legislature hereby congratulate Father Harold Rahm on his selection
as the Segundo Barrio Person of the Year for 2015 and recognize him
for his enduring contributions to El Paso; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Father Rahm as an expression of high regard by the
Texas House of Representatives.
Márquez
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 2716 was adopted by the House on May
21, 2015, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House