88R30804 BK-D
By: Morales Shaw H.R. No. 2029
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Johnny Mata has dedicated his life to standing up
for the civil rights of all members of society; and
WHEREAS, The son of Mexican immigrants, Mr. Mata was raised
by his father in Houston's Second Ward after his mother passed away;
he held various jobs in his youth, and after serving in the
U.S. Army, he took a job that involved conducting surveys to help
residents of disadvantaged neighborhoods to find employment; the
job served as his introduction to community work, and he ultimately
spent more than three decades as a staff member with the Gulf Coast
Community Services Association; he also joined the League of United
Latin American Citizens and became involved in civil rights issues;
and
WHEREAS, Over the years, Mr. Mata sought to focus attention
on civil rights violations, and he has continued his involvement
with LULAC for some 40 years, serving as the organization's state
director and holding several local positions; he currently leads
the Greater Houston Coalition for Justice, and he worked with
lawmakers to achieve passage of House Bill 2150 during the 84th
Texas Legislature in 2015, which helped reform the process of
selecting grand jurors; and
WHEREAS, Johnny Mata has made a profound impact through his
decades-long engagement in the struggle for equal justice, and he
is indeed deserving of recognition for all that he has done for the
people of Houston; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas
Legislature hereby honor Johnny Mata for his many years of service
to the Houston community and extend to him sincere best wishes for
the future; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Mr. Mata as an expression of high regard by the Texas
House of Representatives.