By: Blanco S.R. No. 321
SENATE RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The city of El Paso lost an admired civic leader
and social justice advocate with the passing of Pete T. Duarte on
February 4, 2023, at the age of 84; and
WHEREAS, Born in Moorpark, California, on June 9, 1938,
Pete Duarte was the son of Eduardo Simon and Maria Jesus Duarte;
he labored in the fields alongside his parents and became the
first college graduate in his family, earning degrees from
California State College and The University of Texas at El Paso
and completing the Harvard University Hispanic Health Leadership
Program; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Duarte served with the Peace Corps in the
Dominican Republic and then became a health care organizer in El
Paso for the War on Poverty; recognizing the importance of a
holistic approach, he united other leaders in founding what
became the Centro de Salud Familiar La Fe clinic and served for 12
years as its executive director; in the early 1990s, he became
CEO of Thomason General Hospital, later University Medical
Center of El Paso, which was twice named among America's Top 100
Hospitals during his tenure as "chief servant," his preferred
title; he also led Project Upward Bound at UTEP, where he helped
establish Chicano Studies; and
WHEREAS, Over the years, Mr. Duarte garnered numerous
accolades, and the Pete Duarte Head Start center was named in his
honor; he returned the prestigious Golden Nugget alumni award to
UTEP in 2011 in solidarity with students protesting the
cancellation of the holiday honoring Cesar Chavez, a personal
hero and role model; the university quickly restored the
observance; and
WHEREAS, Deeply devoted to his family, Mr. Duarte was a
loving husband to Joy, and thereafter Irma, and proud father of
four children, Eduardo, Pedro, Marean, and Lilia; as the adoring
"Lito" of 13 grandchildren, he shared countless besos and ice
cream cones; and
WHEREAS, Pete Duarte made a lasting, positive difference
in El Paso through his vision and leadership, and those he left
behind will treasure their memories of his warmth, wit, and
passion for service; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the 88th Texas Legislature
hereby pay tribute to the life of Pete T. Duarte and extend
sincere sympathy to the members of his family; and to all who
mourn his passing; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for his family and that when the Texas Senate adjourns
this day, it do so in memory of Pete Duarte.