| 1 | 1 | | SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 314 |
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| 2 | 2 | | In Memory |
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| 3 | 3 | | of |
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| 4 | 4 | | Blanca Sanchez Vela |
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| 5 | 5 | | WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas joins the |
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| 6 | 6 | | citizens of Brownsville in mourning the loss of Blanca Sanchez |
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| 7 | 7 | | Vela, who died February 19, 2014, at the age of 78; and |
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| 8 | 8 | | WHEREAS, Blanca Sanchez was born in Harlingen; she earned a |
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| 9 | 9 | | bachelor's degree and a master's degree from The University of |
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| 10 | 10 | | Texas--Pan American; and |
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| 11 | 11 | | WHEREAS, Blanca was elected the first female mayor of |
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| 12 | 12 | | Brownsville in 1999; during her tenure, she focused on addressing |
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| 13 | 13 | | the needs of children and on serving the most vulnerable members |
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| 14 | 14 | | of the population; and |
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| 15 | 15 | | WHEREAS, In addition to her mayoral service, she worked |
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| 16 | 16 | | hard to establish the city's first library by serving as cochair |
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| 17 | 17 | | of the Brownsville Library Foundation; an advocate for women, she |
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| 18 | 18 | | encouraged the promotion of female engineers and managers during |
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| 19 | 19 | | her tenure as the first female member of the Brownsville Public |
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| 20 | 20 | | Utilities Board; she also mentored many future community leaders |
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| 21 | 21 | | while serving as a counselor at Saint Joseph's Academy; and |
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| 22 | 22 | | WHEREAS, Mrs. Vela was married to the late Filemon B. Vela, |
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| 23 | 23 | | a United States federal judge; they shared a life of service |
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| 24 | 24 | | together and were blessed with three children and six |
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| 25 | 25 | | grandchildren; following her husband's passing in 2004, she |
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| 26 | 26 | | established the Vela Memorial Scholarship Fund and the Blanca and |
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| 27 | 27 | | Filemon Vela Endowed Scholarship at The University of Texas at |
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| 28 | 28 | | Brownsville; and |
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| 29 | 29 | | WHEREAS, Blanca Vela was respected and admired by many; |
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| 30 | 30 | | through her public service, she inspired countless individuals |
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| 31 | 31 | | throughout her lifetime, and her many contributions to the City |
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| 32 | 32 | | of Brownsville will not be forgotten; now, therefore, be it |
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| 33 | 33 | | RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 84th |
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| 34 | 34 | | Legislature, hereby extend sincere condolences to the bereaved |
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| 35 | 35 | | family of Blanca Sanchez Vela; and, be it further |
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| 36 | 36 | | RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for |
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| 37 | 37 | | her family as an expression of deepest sympathy from the Texas |
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| 38 | 38 | | Senate and that when the Senate adjourns this day, it do so in |
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| 39 | 39 | | memory of Blanca Sanchez Vela. |
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| 40 | 40 | | Lucio |
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| 41 | 41 | | ________________________________ |
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| 42 | 42 | | President of the Senate |
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| 43 | 43 | | I hereby certify that the |
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| 44 | 44 | | above Resolution was adopted by |
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| 45 | 45 | | the Senate on March 4, 2015, by a |
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| 46 | 46 | | rising vote. |
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| 47 | 47 | | ________________________________ |
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| 48 | 48 | | Secretary of the Senate |
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| 49 | 49 | | ________________________________ |
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| 50 | 50 | | Member, Texas Senate |
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