85R13458 BPG-D
By: Rodriguez of Travis H.R. No. 682
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Residents of Austin are mourning the loss of former
Travis County commissioner Richard A. Moya, who died on February
16, 2017, at the age of 84; and
WHEREAS, Born in Austin on August 14, 1932, Richard Moya was
the son of Pete and Bertha Moya; he grew up in the barrio on the
city's East Side, and he developed a strong sense of social justice
at an early age, when his mother stood her ground against
segregation in the school district to ensure he would attend his
neighborhood school, Metz Elementary; as a student at Austin High
School, he joined with friends to create an alternative newspaper
that covered his Mexican American classmates, and when the school
banned the Blah, Blah, and Blah, he distributed copies at the
drugstore across the street; later, he became national president of
the Junior LULAC, and he was a charter member of the Mexican
American Democrats of Texas and the State Tejano Democrats; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Moya worked in the printing business before
enlisting in the United States Army during the Korean War;
subsequently, he was hired as a chief investigator with Travis
County Legal Aid, where his bilingual skill and community contacts
made him a valued staff member; and
WHEREAS, In 1971, Mr. Moya became Travis County's first
Hispanic elected official, following his election as county
commissioner; over the course of four terms in office, he
vigorously supported diversity in hiring and worked tirelessly to
improve social services; he played a key role in the establishment
of an abuse unit in the district attorney's office, in the
development of the StarFlight emergency services program, and in
the creation of a rural transportation program, among other
initiatives; although he sometimes confronted antagonism and
bigotry, he surmounted obstacles with his marvelous sense of humor;
he remained very accessible to the community throughout his career,
and the county eventually named Richard Moya Park in his honor; and
WHEREAS, After concluding his tenure, Mr. Moya served the
state as director of field operations for the agriculture
commissioner; he subsequently joined the administration of
Governor Ann Richards as a deputy chief of staff, a position that
entailed a wide range of responsibilities; moreover, he helped her
achieve her goal of diversifying state boards and commissions; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Moya's dedication to public service was exceeded
only by his devotion to his family; he shared a rewarding marriage
of almost 65 years with his wife, Gertrude "Gertie" Moya, and he was
the proud father of two children, Danny Moya and Lori Moya; in his
later years, he knew the joy of welcoming into his family three
grandchildren, Misty Moya Welch, Jeffrey Daniel Delgado, and Teresa
Denise Delgado, and four great-grandchildren, Nathan
Bailey-Delgado, Lucas Delgado, Jacob Moya, and Danika Moya; and
WHEREAS, A groundbreaking public servant, Richard Moya
effected positive change and mentored hundreds of community
leaders, and although he will be deeply missed, his contributions
will be remembered and admired for years to come; now, therefore, be
it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Richard A. Moya and
extend sincere condolences to his loved ones; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of
Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Richard
Moya.