Bill Text: TX SR273 | 2017-2018 | 85th Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: In memory of Richard Moya.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2017-02-22 - Reported enrolled [SR273 Detail]
Download: Texas-2017-SR273-Enrolled.html
|
||
In Memory | ||
of | ||
Richard Moya | ||
WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas honors and | ||
commemorates the life of Richard Moya, who died on | ||
February 16, 2017, at the age of 84; and | ||
WHEREAS, Richard Moya was a groundbreaking public servant | ||
whose commitment to progress and racial equality served as an | ||
inspiration to generations of Hispanics in the City of Austin and | ||
throughout Travis County; and | ||
WHEREAS, Richard Moya was born on August 14, 1932, to Pete and | ||
Bertha Moya; he grew up in East Austin and attended Metz Elementary | ||
School, Allan Junior High School, and Austin High School; he served | ||
in the United States Army during the Korean War; and | ||
WHEREAS, He and his beloved wife, Gertrude, enjoyed 65 | ||
years of marriage together; they were blessed with a son, the | ||
late Danny Moya, and a daughter, Lori Moya, and with three | ||
grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, all of whom were a | ||
source of much pride and joy for him; and | ||
WHEREAS, Mr. Moya worked in the printing business as a | ||
union pressman, and in 1970, he became the first Hispanic to be | ||
elected to public office in Travis County; he served the citizens | ||
of Precinct 4 with distinction for 16 years as a member of the | ||
Travis County Commissioners Court; and | ||
WHEREAS, His election campaign drew on the support of a | ||
coalition of Mexican American organizations and of a group of | ||
striking furniture workers, whose struggle for fair pay and | ||
workers' rights had galvanized the East Austin community; and | ||
WHEREAS, Over the course of his service on the | ||
commissioners court, Mr. Moya worked tirelessly to reform the | ||
county's welfare and hiring policies; he advocated adding a child | ||
abuse unit to the district attorney's office and played an | ||
important role in improving emergency services, mental health | ||
services, and road maintenance for the county; and | ||
WHEREAS, He was a prominent figure in an alliance of | ||
Hispanic community leaders and elected officials that included | ||
Austin mayor Gus Garcia, state senator Gonzalo Barrientos, and | ||
Austin City Council member John Treviño; he went on to serve as a | ||
deputy chief of staff to Governor Ann Richards, and afterwards, | ||
he pursued a number of business ventures; and | ||
WHEREAS, Throughout his time in public service, he was | ||
known for his accessibility to voters, his willingness to | ||
compromise, his charismatic personality, and his great humor in | ||
the face of racial discrimination and animosity; and | ||
WHEREAS, A man of courage and strength who touched the | ||
lives of many, he gave unselfishly to others, and his wisdom, his | ||
generous spirit, and his enthusiasm for living each day to the | ||
fullest will not be forgotten; and | ||
WHEREAS, He was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather, | ||
and he leaves behind memories that will be treasured forever by his | ||
family and countless friends; now, therefore, be it | ||
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 85th | ||
Legislature, hereby extend sincere condolences to the bereaved | ||
family of Richard Moya; and, be it further | ||
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for | ||
his family as an expression of deepest sympathy from the Texas | ||
Senate and that when the Senate adjourns this day, it do so in | ||
memory of Richard Moya. | ||
Watson | ||
________________________________ | ||
President of the Senate | ||
I hereby certify that the | ||
above Resolution was adopted by | ||
the Senate on February 22, 2017, | ||
by a rising vote. | ||
________________________________ | ||
Secretary of the Senate | ||
________________________________ | ||
Member, Texas Senate |