TITLE: Commemorating the 10th anniversary of the death of John Austin Pena and the naming of the John Austin Pena Memorial Center in Edinburg.

SUMMARY: Commemorating the 10th anniversary of the death of John Austin Pena and the naming of the John Austin Pena Memorial Center in Edinburg.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, May 18, 2011, marked the 10th anniversary of the untimely passing of John Austin Pena of Edinburg, and a new drug treatment center being completed in Hidalgo County has been named the John Austin Pena Memorial Center in honor of this beloved young man; and WHEREAS, We stand together in commemoration of John's life with his loving family members: his father and stepmother, Aaron Pena, Jr., and Monica Pena; his mother, Criselda Pena; his dear siblings, Adrienne Pena-Garza, Aaron Leonel Pena, Alyssa Victoria Pena, and Michael Anthony Pena; his beloved young daughter, Chelsea Pena, and all his other relatives; and WHEREAS, John Austin Pena was born at Park Place Hospital in Houston on October 4, 1984; he was a bright, spirited, cheerful young man who had many good friends; his broad spectrum of interests ranged from sports--especially basketball, soccer, and baseball--to skateboarding and playing laser tag with his pals and playing video games with his younger brother "Mikey"; endowed with a lively imagination and curiosity, he also enjoyed writing and traveling; and WHEREAS, On May 18, 2001, the limitless potential that was embodied in the life of John Austin Pena was tragically brought to an untimely end when he and two other young people attending a social gathering were encouraged to ingest a substance, distributed at the gathering, that later proved to be deadly to all three; his death and absence caused considerable anguish among his friends and relatives, particularly his parents and siblings; many were led to channel their deep remorse by seeking solutions to the growing drug epidemic among our youth, with particular attention to those living along the Texas-Mexico border; and WHEREAS, In June 2002, John's father, Aaron Pena, embarked on a journey to examine how Texas was dealing with rising drug abuse; he began visiting drug treatment centers across Texas to raise awareness of the growing problem, and the endeavor culminated with a visit to La Hacienda Drug Treatment Center in Hunt; in order to bring attention to the lack of treatment facilities in Texas, Representative Pena walked 125 miles from La Hacienda treatment center to our state Capitol in Austin; as a result of that visit, he made a promise to bring a drug treatment center to South Texas; and WHEREAS, In 2004, to further this goal of drug abuse awareness, the John Austin Pena Memorial Scholarship was established in John's memory by the Texas Association of Addiction Professionals; the scholarship is presented annually to a student in recovery who is pursuing a college degree; and WHEREAS, On May 18, 2007, through the diligent work of his father, State Representative Aaron Pena, the Texas House of Representatives gave budgetary approval for a drug treatment facility in the Rio Grande Valley; on March 26, 2010, Hidalgo County held a ground-breaking ceremony for the substance abuse treatment facility located at 3341 E. Richardson Road in Edinburg; and WHEREAS, On May 17, 2011, the Hidalgo County Commissioners Court unanimously voted to not only memorialize the legacy of a young life cut short, but also recognize the efforts of those inspired by that tragedy to combat the evils of drug abuse, by ordering that the Hidalgo County Substance Abuse Treatment Facility be designated the John Austin Pena Memorial Center; and WHEREAS, The new John Austin Pena Memorial Center, opening in the fall of 2011, will provide substance abuse treatment services to adolescents on an outpatient basis; although John Pena is deeply missed by his loved ones, the scholarship and the drug treatment center that bear his name increase awareness and offer hope of a brighter future to young people struggling to move beyond addiction; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the 82nd Legislature of the State of Texas hereby pay tribute to the memory of John Austin Pena on the 10th anniversary of his passing and commemorate the naming of the John Austin Pena Memorial Center in his honor. Guillen President of the Senate Speaker of the House I certify that H.C.R. No. 166 was adopted by the House on May 25, 2011, by a non-record vote. Chief Clerk of the House I certify that H.C.R. No. 166 was adopted by the Senate on May 27, 2011, by a viva-voce vote. Secretary of the Senate APPROVED: Date Governor