Bill Text: TX HR682 | 2017-2018 | 85th Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: In memory of Richard A. Moya of Austin.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 5-0)
Status: (Passed) 2017-03-20 - Reported enrolled [HR682 Detail]
Download: Texas-2017-HR682-Enrolled.html
H.R. No. 682 |
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WHEREAS, Residents of Austin are mourning the loss of former | ||
Travis County commissioner Richard A. Moya, who died on February | ||
16, 2017, at the age of 84; and | ||
WHEREAS, Born in Austin on August 14, 1932, Richard Moya was | ||
the son of Pete and Bertha Moya; he grew up in the barrio on the | ||
city's East Side, and he developed a strong sense of social justice | ||
at an early age, when his mother stood her ground against | ||
segregation in the school district to ensure he would attend his | ||
neighborhood school, Metz Elementary; as a student at Austin High | ||
School, he joined with friends to create an alternative newspaper | ||
that covered his Mexican American classmates, and when the school | ||
banned the Blah, Blah, and Blah, he distributed copies at the | ||
drugstore across the street; later, he became national president of | ||
the Junior LULAC, and he was a charter member of the Mexican | ||
American Democrats of Texas and the State Tejano Democrats; and | ||
WHEREAS, Mr. Moya worked in the printing business before | ||
enlisting in the United States Army during the Korean War; | ||
subsequently, he was hired as a chief investigator with Travis | ||
County Legal Aid, where his bilingual skill and community contacts | ||
made him a valued staff member; and | ||
WHEREAS, In 1971, Mr. Moya became Travis County's first | ||
Hispanic elected official, following his election as county | ||
commissioner; over the course of four terms in office, he | ||
vigorously supported diversity in hiring and worked tirelessly to | ||
improve social services; he played a key role in the establishment | ||
of an abuse unit in the district attorney's office, in the | ||
development of the StarFlight emergency services program, and in | ||
the creation of a rural transportation program, among other | ||
initiatives; although he sometimes confronted antagonism and | ||
bigotry, he surmounted obstacles with his marvelous sense of humor; | ||
he remained very accessible to the community throughout his career, | ||
and the county eventually named Richard Moya Park in his honor; and | ||
WHEREAS, After concluding his tenure, Mr. Moya served the | ||
state as director of field operations for the agriculture | ||
commissioner; he subsequently joined the administration of | ||
Governor Ann Richards as a deputy chief of staff, a position that | ||
entailed a wide range of responsibilities; moreover, he helped her | ||
achieve her goal of diversifying state boards and commissions; and | ||
WHEREAS, Mr. Moya's dedication to public service was exceeded | ||
only by his devotion to his family; he shared a rewarding marriage | ||
of almost 65 years with his wife, Gertrude "Gertie" Moya, and he was | ||
the proud father of two children, Danny Moya and Lori Moya; in his | ||
later years, he knew the joy of welcoming into his family three | ||
grandchildren, Misty Moya Welch, Jeffrey Daniel Delgado, and Teresa | ||
Denise Delgado, and four great-grandchildren, Nathan | ||
Bailey-Delgado, Lucas Delgado, Jacob Moya, and Danika Moya; and | ||
WHEREAS, A groundbreaking public servant, Richard Moya | ||
effected positive change and mentored hundreds of community | ||
leaders, and although he will be deeply missed, his contributions | ||
will be remembered and admired for years to come; now, therefore, be | ||
it | ||
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas | ||
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Richard A. Moya 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 Richard | ||
Moya. | ||
Rodriguez of Travis | ||
Dukes | ||
Howard | ||
Israel | ||
Hinojosa | ||
______________________________ | ||
Speaker of the House | ||
I certify that H.R. No. 682 was unanimously adopted by a | ||
rising vote of the House on March 16, 2017. | ||
______________________________ | ||
Chief Clerk of the House | ||