Bill Text: TX SR548 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: In memory of Elena Peña Gallego.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2023-05-11 - Reported enrolled [SR548 Detail]
Download: Texas-2023-SR548-Enrolled.html
|
|
||
| In Memory | ||
| of | ||
| Elena Peña Gallego | ||
| WHEREAS, Elena Peña Gallego, an esteemed member of the | ||
| Alpine community and a friend to many, passed away on March 8, | ||
| 2023, at the age of 94; and | ||
| WHEREAS, The former Elena Peña was born to Martín Peña and | ||
| Cecilia Paredes Peña on August 18, 1928, in Fort Stockton, and | ||
| she grew up with the companionship of three siblings, Mary, | ||
| Irene, and Pete; at the age of 16, she moved to Alpine to attend | ||
| Sul Ross State Teachers College, and two years later, she was | ||
| joined in matrimony to Pete A. Gallego, with whom she shared a | ||
| fulfilling union that spanned more than six decades until his | ||
| passing in 2010; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Mrs. Gallego left college to take a position as a | ||
| teacher at a rural school near Chinati Peak, and upon her | ||
| marriage, she worked in the Gallego family's restaurant, then | ||
| known as the Green Café; she later became the first Mexican | ||
| American bookkeeper at First National Bank in Alpine before | ||
| joining the Texas Department of Health and Human Services, where | ||
| she took great satisfaction in helping people to meet their basic | ||
| needs; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Active in her community, Mrs. Gallego helped to | ||
| establish and operate Our Lady of Peace Credit Union, now Alpine | ||
| Community Credit Union, in order to meet the financial needs of | ||
| Mexican Americans who faced discrimination by area banks; | ||
| moreover, she was very involved in local politics and served as | ||
| campaign strategist for her husband, who served five terms as a | ||
| trustee of the Alpine Independent School District, and the | ||
| family's restaurant became a frequent stopping place for | ||
| Democratic candidates in the West Texas area; in 2019, she | ||
| received an Honorary Bachelor of Arts Degree from Sul Ross State | ||
| University and the Texas State University System Board of | ||
| Regents, the first time such a degree had been awarded; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Mrs. Gallego took great pride in her four | ||
| children, Imelda, Rebecca, Pete, and Robert, and she instilled in | ||
| them the value of education; with the passing years, she had the | ||
| pleasure of seeing her family grow to include five grandchildren, | ||
| Imelda, María, Briana, Cristina, and Nicolás, as well as a | ||
| great-granddaughter, Sonia; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Deeply devoted to her family and her community, | ||
| Elena Peña Gallego made a meaningful difference in the lives of | ||
| her loved ones and fellow citizens alike, and those who were | ||
| privileged to share in her love and affection will forever hold | ||
| her close in their hearts; now, therefore, be it | ||
| RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 88th | ||
| Legislature, hereby pay tribute to the life of Elena Peña Gallego | ||
| and extend sincere condolences to all who mourn her passing; and, | ||
| be it further | ||
| RESOLVED, That an official copy of this Resolution be | ||
| prepared for her family and that when the Texas Senate adjourns | ||
| this day, it do so in memory of Elena Peña Gallego. | ||
| Blanco | ||
| ________________________________ | ||
| President of the Senate | ||
| I hereby certify that the | ||
| above Resolution was adopted by | ||
| the Senate on May 11, 2023, by a | ||
| rising vote. | ||
| ________________________________ | ||
| Secretary of the Senate | ||
| ________________________________ | ||
| Member, Texas Senate | ||
