| 1 | 1 | | 89R18571 EME-D |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Martinez Fischer H.R. No. 811 |
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| 6 | 6 | | |
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| 7 | 7 | | R E S O L U T I O N |
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| 8 | 8 | | WHEREAS, The life of a beloved educator drew to a close with |
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| 9 | 9 | | the passing of Yolanda P. Torres of San Antonio on February 24, |
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| 10 | 10 | | 2025, at the age of 88; and |
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| 11 | 11 | | WHEREAS, The daughter of Rolando and Bertha Parga, the former |
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| 12 | 12 | | Yolanda Parga was born in San Antonio on June 13, 1936; her parents |
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| 13 | 13 | | were talented musicians, and she grew up with three siblings, Irma, |
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| 14 | 14 | | Roland, and Sylvia, in a household that shaped her love for the |
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| 15 | 15 | | arts; she studied the accordion with a classical teacher, and she |
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| 16 | 16 | | also played the piano, ukulele, and French horn, the latter as a |
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| 17 | 17 | | member of the Thomas Jefferson High School marching band; the first |
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| 18 | 18 | | in her family to graduate from college, she earned an English degree |
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| 19 | 19 | | at the University of the Incarnate Word and a master's degree in |
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| 20 | 20 | | psychology at St. Mary's University; and |
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| 21 | 21 | | WHEREAS, Ms. Torres began her teaching career with the |
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| 22 | 22 | | Edgewood Independent School District in 1957; during her years in |
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| 23 | 23 | | education, she taught English with a focus on classical literature, |
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| 24 | 24 | | and she served as a journalism instructor and school newspaper |
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| 25 | 25 | | sponsor at Fox Tech High School in San Antonio, as the yearbook |
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| 26 | 26 | | sponsor at Jefferson Davis High School in Houston, and as the |
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| 27 | 27 | | literary club sponsor at Thomas Edison High School in San Antonio; |
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| 28 | 28 | | in 1976, Ms. Torres became the first Mexican American woman to be |
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| 29 | 29 | | elected to the Texas State Board of Education; she was teaching at |
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| 30 | 30 | | Edison when she retired in 2000; among her numerous accolades, she |
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| 31 | 31 | | received a Making a Mark on the World Award from the San Antonio |
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| 32 | 32 | | Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and she was inducted into the San |
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| 33 | 33 | | Antonio Women's Hall of Fame; and |
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| 34 | 34 | | WHEREAS, Ms. Torres took great pride in her four children, |
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| 35 | 35 | | Denise, Peter, Tina, and Paul, and her grandchildren; she always |
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| 36 | 36 | | saw the best in others, and she was a talented poet, oil painter, |
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| 37 | 37 | | singer, and pianist who served as choir director for La Trinidad |
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| 38 | 38 | | United Methodist Church for many years; and |
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| 39 | 39 | | WHEREAS, Admired for her myriad accomplishments and her |
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| 40 | 40 | | remarkable ability to connect with students, Yolanda Torres |
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| 41 | 41 | | brightened the world for all who knew her, and they will forever |
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| 42 | 42 | | hold her close in their hearts; now, therefore, be it |
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| 43 | 43 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas |
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| 44 | 44 | | Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Yolanda P. Torres |
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| 45 | 45 | | and extend deepest condolences to the members of her family: to her |
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| 46 | 46 | | children, Denise, Peter, Tina, and Paul and his wife, Alisa; to her |
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| 47 | 47 | | grandchildren, Tahnee, Peter Michael, and Savannah and her husband, |
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| 48 | 48 | | Curtis; to her sister, Sylvia; to her sisters-in-law, Dolores and |
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| 49 | 49 | | Sandy; and to her many other relatives and friends; and, be it |
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| 50 | 50 | | further |
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| 51 | 51 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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| 52 | 52 | | prepared for her family and that when the Texas House of |
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| 53 | 53 | | Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Yolanda |
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| 54 | 54 | | Torres. |
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