TITLE: In memory of former state representative Lauro Cruz.

SUMMARY: In memory of former state representative Lauro Cruz.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, The death of former state representative Lauro Cruz on January 29, 2017, at the age of 83, concluded a remarkable life of service; and WHEREAS, Born in Beaumont on May 20, 1933, Lauro Cruz was the son of Manuel Cruz and Margarita Menchaca Cruz; he grew up in Houston, where he took on adult responsibilities as a boy, selecting and buying produce for the family grocery store; during the Korean War, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps, and on his return, he applied for a job with the Houston Metropolitan Transit Authority; he met with significant resistance, but persevered to become the agency's first Mexican American bus driver; and WHEREAS, Mr. Cruz purchased a grocery store in the Sixth Ward while working his way through school; he completed his bachelor's degree in political science at the University of Houston and went on to attend South Texas College of Law; recognizing the need for greater Hispanic representation in the political process, he ran successfully for precinct judge, and he participated in the 1966 Farmworkers March; that same year, he won a seat in the Texas House as the first Mexican American legislator elected from Harris County in over a century and a quarter; a tireless champion of minorities and the struggle for social justice, he coauthored the first minimum wage bill in Texas, strove to ensure the rights of farm and migrant workers, and secured the passage of a migrant transportation bill; he was also instrumental in the passage of a measure regulating hazardous substances in the state; and WHEREAS, With a young family to support, Mr. Cruz left the legislature after three terms, and in 1972, he became a special assistant to Governor Dolph Briscoe; he later served as executive director of the Greater South Texas Cultural Basin Commission and led the Texas Good Neighbor Commission; subsequently, he became one of the state's first independent Hispanic lobbyists, and he helped educate young Texans about politics and the Mexican American experience as founder of the Innovation 88 Leadership Program at the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at The University of Texas at Austin, where he taught during the late 1980s and early 1990s; in addition, he served as president of the U.S. State Department-affiliated International Hospitality Council; his many accolades included the National Benito Juarez-Lincoln Award for his contributions to the progress of Mexican Americans; and WHEREAS, Mr. Cruz shared a fulfilling marriage of more than 61 years with his college sweetheart, Clarice Cruz; he was the father of four treasured children, Chris, Camille, Jerry, and Sat Nam, and he took great pride in his three grandchildren, Lucas Tenbrook and Kasey and Cody Cruz; a man of faith, he was a longtime member of the Lutheran church; and WHEREAS, Deeply committed to building a more just and equitable society, Lauro Cruz set an inspiring example of leadership, and his achievements have helped to better the lives of countless Texans; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of the Honorable Lauro Cruz and extend sincere sympathy to his family 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 the Honorable Lauro Cruz. Farrar Alonzo Straus Goldman Oliverson Allen Gonzales of Williamson Ortega Alonzo Gonz lez of El Paso Paddie Alvarado Gooden Parker Anchia Guerra Paul Anderson of Dallas Guillen Perez Anderson of McLennan Gutierrez Phelan Ar valo Hefner Phillips Ashby Hernandez Pickett Bailes Herrero Price Bell Hinojosa Raney Bernal Holland Raymond Biedermann Howard Reynolds Blanco Huberty Rinaldi Bohac Hunter Roberts Bonnen of Brazoria Isaac Rodriguez of Bexar Bonnen of Galveston Israel Rodriguez of Travis Burkett Johnson of Dallas Romero, Jr. Burns Johnson of Harris Rose Burrows Kacal Sanford Button Keough Schaefer Cain King of Hemphill Schofield Canales King of Parker Schubert Capriglione King of Uvalde Shaheen Clardy Klick Sheffield Coleman Koop Shine Collier Krause Simmons Cook Kuempel Smithee Cortez Lambert Springer Cosper Landgraf Stephenson Craddick Lang Stickland Cyrier Larson Stucky Dale Laubenberg Swanson Darby Leach Thierry Davis of Dallas Longoria Thompson of Brazoria Davis of Harris Lozano Thompson of Harris Dean Lucio III Tinderholt Deshotel Martinez Turner Dukes Metcalf Uresti Dutton Meyer VanDeaver Elkins Miller Villalba Faircloth Minjarez Vo Fallon Moody Walle Farrar Morrison White Flynn Mu oz, Jr. Wilson Frank Murphy Workman Frullo Murr Wray Geren Neave Wu Gervin-Hawkins Nev rez Zedler Giddings Oliveira Zerwas Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 1829 was unanimously adopted by a rising vote of the House on May 8, 2017. Chief Clerk of the House