TITLE: In memory of Andrew Reyes Ramirez of Austin.

SUMMARY: In memory of Andrew Reyes Ramirez of Austin.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, Austin residents lost an esteemed community leader with the passing of Andrew Reyes Ramirez on April 17, 2015, at the age of 73; and WHEREAS, The son of David and Oralia Ramirez, Andy Ramirez was born in Austin on February 13, 1942; he was raised by his mother in the tight-knit Mexican American community on the city's East Side while his father served in the military during World War II; as a boy, he worked long hours shining shoes, but he still succeeded in making straight A's; in 1961, he married Nellie Ancira, and they became the parents of twins, Andrew and Annette; and WHEREAS, Mr. Ramirez worked at the Glastron Boat Factory before serving his country in the United States Navy; subsequently, he majored in math at The University of Texas at Austin, where he became acutely aware of discrimination against Mexican Americans; in the course of helping his parents run the Chuck Wagon Barbecue, he met many political leaders, and he developed strong loyalties to both the Mexican American and African American communities; and WHEREAS, Determined to advance social justice, Mr. Ramirez became one of the organizers of the historic Economy Furniture strike; he then joined the staff of the governor's office to provide technical assistance and oversight to War on Poverty Community Action programs in South Texas; later, he was appointed to supervise the Austin Community Action Agency, and when it was incorporated into city government, he became Austin's director of human development programs; he administered antipoverty projects as well as initiatives in manpower development, economic development, and juvenile justice, and he secured millions of dollars in grants to benefit his fellow citizens; moreover, he increased the employment of minorities and women, and he was involved in such organizations as the National League of Cities; and WHEREAS, In the early 1970s, Mr. Ramirez urged his friend, Buddy Ruiz, to run for the city council, and together, they waged a spirited campaign that helped energize political activism among Mexican Americans; Mr. Ramirez married Dr. Blandina Cardenas in 1978, and while she served in the Carter administration, he studied public administration and policy at George Washington University; after helping to found the National Hispanic Housing Coalition, he served as its assistant director; he also gave generously of his time, talents, and resources to Democratic candidates for office at all levels; and WHEREAS, Mr. Ramirez worked in nonprofit development for Solar America, an alternative energy company, before transitioning to the private sector; as a founder of the Avante Corporation, he engaged in commercial real estate development in San Antonio and Austin; he went on to establish several companies, including Rz and Associates and Rz Communications, and he was active in the U.S. Hispanic Contractors Association de Austin and the Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce; in 1995, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the chamber, and five years later, he was named a special advisor to the governor of Texas; and WHEREAS, Committed to expanding opportunity in Austin, he mentored dozens of aspiring entrepreneurs, and he counseled young Latinos seeking to start nonprofit organizations; in 2010, he founded the Bellas Artes Alliance to promote Latino arts and culture; with his wife, Linda Wolf Ramirez, he sponsored the popular annual Pan Americana Festival, which the alliance produced in cooperation with the city and the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center; and WHEREAS, Andrew Ramirez devoted himself wholeheartedly to making Austin a more equitable and inclusive place, and his life stands as an inspiring example of positive civic engagement; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Andrew Reyes Ramirez and extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to his wife, Linda Wolf Ramirez; to his children, Dorothy Lopez, Andrew Ramirez Jr. and his wife, Sara, Annette Kjar and her husband, Michael, and Alexandro Rudolpho Ramirez; to his stepdaughter, Avelon Pang; to his brothers, David Ramirez and Robert Loera; to his sisters, Yolanda Blanco and Mary Jane Haros; to his grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and to his many other relatives and friends; 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 Andrew Ramirez. Rodriguez of Travis Huberty Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 3370 was unanimously adopted by a rising vote of the House on May 30, 2015. Chief Clerk of the House