85S10468 JGH-D
By: Bernal H.R. No. 19
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The residents of San Antonio bade farewell to an
esteemed newspaper publisher with the passing of Florentino Duran
on June 25, 2017, at the age of 82; and
WHEREAS, Tino Duran was born on October 24, 1934, and was
introduced to journalism while serving as the editor of the
newspaper at Sidney Lanier High School; after four years in the
U.S. Air Force, he enrolled at San Antonio College, where he worked
on the school paper, the Ranger; he went on to earn a bachelor's
degree in political science and a master's degree in public
administration from St. Mary's University; and
WHEREAS, Early in his career, Mr. Duran worked for the Bexar
County Juvenile Probation Department and then was appointed as an
executive assistant in the administration of President Lyndon
Johnson; he also held high-ranking posts with San Antonio Mayor
John Gatti and the Housing Authority of Bexar County before
focusing his talents on newspaper publishing; he became the general
manager of the newspaper El Sol de Tejas in Dallas in the mid-1980s
and then took on the role of president and CEO of El Informador
Hispaño in Fort Worth; and
WHEREAS, In 1989, Mr. Duran and his wife, Amelia, purchased
La Prensa, a bilingual newspaper which had been serving San Antonio
since 1913; under his leadership, the paper became a cornerstone of
the Hispanic community, offering vital information and an inspiring
message to area residents, and it also trained many aspiring young
journalists; the couple also started the La Prensa Foundation,
which has distributed more than $2 million in college scholarships
since 1995; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Duran's numerous honors include the Henry
Guerra Lifetime Achievement Award for Excellence in Journalism from
the San Antonio Association of Hispanic Journalists, the Henry B.
Gonzalez Public Service and Integrity Award, and the North San
Antonio Chamber of Commerce Community Service Award; in 2014, he
was inducted into the Texas Newspaper Hall of Fame; and
WHEREAS, Tino Duran made a positive difference in the San
Antonio community through his dedicated efforts to showcase
uplifting stories about the city's Latino residents, and his
influence will continue to be felt for many years to come; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas
Legislature, 1st Called Session, hereby pay tribute to the memory
of Florentino Duran and extend sincere condolences to the members
of his family: to his wife of 62 years, Amelia Duran; to his
children, Tino Duran Jr. and his wife, Susan, David Duran and his
wife, Norma, Steve Duran and his wife, Virginia, Margie Freeman and
her husband, Kenneth, and Nina Duran; to his 13 grandchildren and 18
great-grandchildren; and to his other relatives and many friends;
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 Florentino
Duran.