Bill Text: TX HR2390 | 2011-2012 | 82nd Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: In memory of Starr County civic leader Manuel Benavidez, Jr.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-05-24 - Filed [HR2390 Detail]
Download: Texas-2011-HR2390-Introduced.html
82R30947 BPG-D | ||
By: Guillen | H.R. No. 2390 |
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WHEREAS, Citizens of Starr County continue to benefit from | ||
the enormous contributions of esteemed civic leader Manuel | ||
Benavidez, Jr., who passed away on March 28, 2009, at the age of 57; | ||
and | ||
WHEREAS, A former migrant worker, Mr. Benavidez earned his | ||
bachelor's degree in bilingual education from The University of | ||
Texas-Pan American in 1986 and went on to dedicate himself to | ||
improving access to higher education for all; he was appointed as a | ||
founding member of the South Texas College Board of Trustees in 1993 | ||
to represent Starr County in the development of a new community | ||
college district, and he was subsequently elected to his seat for | ||
two six-year terms; a powerful advocate, he galvanized the campaign | ||
for establishment of a taxing district and the issuance of $20 | ||
million in bonds for initial construction of five STC | ||
campuses/centers, and during his term as chair, he played a crucial | ||
role in the passage of a $98.7 million bond package and a tax | ||
increase to fund operating costs of the college; and | ||
WHEREAS, Mr. Benavidez successfully championed many | ||
innovative programs to benefit STC and residents of South Texas; | ||
his leadership at the local and state levels was key to the passage | ||
of legislation allowing eligible high school students to dually | ||
enroll in college-level technical courses, to the development of | ||
the Dual Enrollment Academy for Medical Sciences at STC, to the | ||
selection of STC for a pilot bachelor's degree program in applied | ||
technology, and to securing appropriations for UT-Pan American to | ||
create an upper-level university center in Starr County; moreover, | ||
his vision was instrumental in the founding of a technology center | ||
at the county STC campus, which was dedicated as the Manuel | ||
Benavidez, Jr., Rural Technology Center in 2010; previously, the | ||
Starr County Commissioners Court declared November 2002 as Manuel | ||
Benavidez, Jr., Month to recognize his remarkable accomplishments; | ||
and | ||
WHEREAS, At the national level, Mr. Benavidez shared his | ||
expertise as a member of the Association of Community College | ||
Trustees Diversity Committee, serving two terms as chair; the ACCT | ||
gave him its Lifetime Membership Award in 2005, and that same year, | ||
he and STC won the organization's Western Region Equity Award; in | ||
addition, Mr. Benavidez enhanced quality of life in Starr County | ||
through his tireless service on the Lower Rio Grande Valley | ||
Workforce Development Board and in myriad other capacities; and | ||
WHEREAS, Although it is impossible to gauge the full effect | ||
of a life so devoted to the community, the exceptional | ||
accomplishments of Manuel Benavidez continue to resonate as the | ||
years go by; now, therefore, be it | ||
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas | ||
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life and achievements of | ||
Manuel Benavidez, Jr., and extend sincere condolences to his loved | ||
ones; 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 Manuel | ||
Benavidez, Jr. |