Texas 2023 - 88th Regular

Texas Senate Bill SR548 Compare Versions

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1	1	SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 548
2	2	In Memory
3	3	of
4	4	Elena Peña Gallego
5	5	WHEREAS, Elena Peña Gallego, an esteemed member of the
6	6	Alpine community and a friend to many, passed away on March 8,
7	7	2023, at the age of 94; and
8	8	WHEREAS, The former Elena Peña was born to Martín Peña and
9	9	Cecilia Paredes Peña on August 18, 1928, in Fort Stockton, and
10	10	she grew up with the companionship of three siblings, Mary,
11	11	Irene, and Pete; at the age of 16, she moved to Alpine to attend
12	12	Sul Ross State Teachers College, and two years later, she was
13	13	joined in matrimony to Pete A. Gallego, with whom she shared a
14	14	fulfilling union that spanned more than six decades until his
15	15	passing in 2010; and
16	16	WHEREAS, Mrs. Gallego left college to take a position as a
17	17	teacher at a rural school near Chinati Peak, and upon her
18	18	marriage, she worked in the Gallego family's restaurant, then
19	19	known as the Green Café; she later became the first Mexican
20	20	American bookkeeper at First National Bank in Alpine before
21	21	joining the Texas Department of Health and Human Services, where
22	22	she took great satisfaction in helping people to meet their basic
23	23	needs; and
24	24	WHEREAS, Active in her community, Mrs. Gallego helped to
25	25	establish and operate Our Lady of Peace Credit Union, now Alpine
26	26	Community Credit Union, in order to meet the financial needs of
27	27	Mexican Americans who faced discrimination by area banks;
28	28	moreover, she was very involved in local politics and served as
29	29	campaign strategist for her husband, who served five terms as a
30	30	trustee of the Alpine Independent School District, and the
31	31	family's restaurant became a frequent stopping place for
32	32	Democratic candidates in the West Texas area; in 2019, she
33	33	received an Honorary Bachelor of Arts Degree from Sul Ross State
34	34	University and the Texas State University System Board of
35	35	Regents, the first time such a degree had been awarded; and
36	36	WHEREAS, Mrs. Gallego took great pride in her four
37	37	children, Imelda, Rebecca, Pete, and Robert, and she instilled in
38	38	them the value of education; with the passing years, she had the
39	39	pleasure of seeing her family grow to include five grandchildren,
40	40	Imelda, María, Briana, Cristina, and Nicolás, as well as a
41	41	great-granddaughter, Sonia; and
42	42	WHEREAS, Deeply devoted to her family and her community,
43	43	Elena Peña Gallego made a meaningful difference in the lives of
44	44	her loved ones and fellow citizens alike, and those who were
45	45	privileged to share in her love and affection will forever hold
46	46	her close in their hearts; now, therefore, be it
47	47	RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 88th
48	48	Legislature, hereby pay tribute to the life of Elena Peña Gallego
49	49	and extend sincere condolences to all who mourn her passing; and,
50	50	be it further
51	51	RESOLVED, That an official copy of this Resolution be
52	52	prepared for her family and that when the Texas Senate adjourns
53	53	this day, it do so in memory of Elena Peña Gallego.
54	54	Blanco
55	55	________________________________
56	56	President of the Senate
57	57	I hereby certify that the
58	58	above Resolution was adopted by
59	59	the Senate on May 11, 2023, by a
60	60	rising vote.
61	61	________________________________
62	62	Secretary of the Senate
63	63	________________________________
64	64	Member, Texas Senate