TITLE: Recognizing the naming of Jaime P. Martinez Place in San Antonio.

SUMMARY: Recognizing the naming of Jaime P. Martinez Place in San Antonio.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, Residents of San Antonio are celebrating the renaming of a street in honor of labor and civil rights leader Jaime P. Martinez on March 20, 2015; and WHEREAS, A San Antonio native, Jaime Martinez was born in 1946 and raised by his grandparents, who were migrant workers from Mexico; after finding employment with a refrigeration company, he joined Local 780 of the International Union of Electrical Workers in 1966 and began advocating for the rights of his fellow workers; during the 1960s, he also honed his organizational skills alongside Cesar Chavez, marching in behalf of farm laborers; he founded the Cesar E. Chavez LULAC Council No. 4626 and continues to serve as its president; and WHEREAS, Mr. Martinez was elected treasurer for District 11 of the International Union of Electrical Workers in 1990, becoming the first Mexican American to serve on the union's executive board; subsequently, he advocated for labor rights and social justice in numerous key roles, serving as first vice president for the Central Labor Council of the AFL-CIO and president of the national Labor Council for Latin American Advancement, and he was national LULAC treasurer for four terms; and WHEREAS, In the 1990s, Mr. Martinez was the national labor coordinator for the historic Latino March on Washington, which was attended by 200,000 people, and he led an international delegation that met with Attorney General Janet Reno requesting an investigation of civil rights violations; he was appointed as one of only 100 delegates to the 2000 International Metalworkers' Federation World Council convention, a historic meeting of representatives from 25 countries; and WHEREAS, This dynamic Texan has dedicated himself to preserving the legacy of Cesar Chavez in San Antonio; he was the lead organizer and chair of the 10th Annual Cesar E. Chavez March for Justice, which drew 20,000 participants; moreover, he created the Cesar E. Chavez Legacy and Education Foundation, which has raised thousands of dollars for underprivileged students, and he was instrumental in the naming of a street in honor of Cesar Chavez; and WHEREAS, Over the years, Jaime Martinez has received myriad accolades, including the Ernest Olivares Cultural Award from the Avenida Guadalupe Association and the 2014 Juneteenth San Antonio Frederick Douglass Emancipation Award; his vision and leadership have contributed significantly to the advancement of labor and civil rights, and he is indeed deserving of this latest honor; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 84th Legislature, hereby commemorate the naming of Jaime P. Martinez Place and extend to Mr. Martinez sincere best wishes for continued success; and, be it further RESOLVED, That an official copy of this Resolution be prepared for Mr. Martinez as an expression of high regard from the Texas Senate. Men ndez President of the Senate I hereby certify that the above Resolution was adopted by the Senate on March 25, 2015.