H.R. No. 432
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Ruben Saenz of Rio Grande City has rendered
exceptional service to area residents as an administrator for the
Rio Grande City Consolidated Independent School District and for
South Texas College; and
WHEREAS, Raised in San Isidro, Mr. Saenz graduated from San
Isidro High School in 1955 and subsequently enlisted in the
U.S. Air Force; he completed his military service and went on to
earn a bachelor's degree in health and physical education from Pan
American University and a master's degree in school administration
from Texas A&I University; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Saenz began his notable career as an educator in
1960 as a teacher and coach for the Rio Grande City CISD; he was
named principal of Rio Grande City Elementary School in 1969, and he
later served as principal of Rio Grande City High School for 17
years before holding the same position at Brown Middle School in
McAllen; he was appointed superintendent of Rio Grande City schools
in 1992, and in that role he fostered a supportive and challenging
educational environment for all the children in the district; he
subsequently drew on his wealth of administrative experience as a
dean at the South Texas College Starr County Campus, a position he
held for several years until his retirement in 2013; and
WHEREAS, Active in a number of professional organizations,
Mr. Saenz served as president of the Rio Grande City CISD Classroom
Teachers Association, where he helped to secure teacher contracts
and to establish the health insurance program for district
employees; he has also served as the first Hispanic president of the
Texas Association of Secondary School Principals, and he has
chaired the Texas School Administrators Council; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Saenz is a valued and longtime congregant of
First United Methodist Church in Rio Grande City; he has been a
member of the local Lions Club for more than a half-century, and he
previously served as a baseball coach for the Rio Grande City Little
League; in addition, he has distinguished himself as chair of the
Starr County Fair Association Scholarship Committee and as a member
and past worshipful master of Hope Lodge No. 471; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Saenz has made immeasurable contributions to
the Rio Grande City CISD, South Texas College, and his community as
a whole, and he may take justifiable pride in his many important
achievements; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas
Legislature hereby commend Ruben Saenz for the outstanding
leadership he has provided to the Rio Grande City Consolidated
Independent School District and South Texas College and extend to
him sincere best wishes for continued success; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Mr. Saenz as an expression of high regard by the Texas
House of Representatives.
Guillen
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 432 was adopted by the House on
February 19, 2015, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House