TITLE: In memory of Linda Bridges, president of the Texas chapter of the American Federation of Teachers.

SUMMARY: In memory of Linda Bridges, president of the Texas chapter of the American Federation of Teachers.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, The life of a respected educator and labor leader drew to a close with the passing of Linda Bridges of Austin on January 13, 2015, at the age of 65; and WHEREAS, Ms. Bridges began her notable career as an elementary special education teacher in the Corpus Christi Independent School District; she later became a charter member of the Corpus Christi American Federation of Teachers and went on to serve the organization as president for nearly a quarter-century; in that role, she helped develop the process of elected consultation, which enables district faculty and staff members to elect an organization to represent them in discussions with the administration regarding wages, benefits, and working conditions, and that innovative system was quickly adopted by other districts throughout the state; and WHEREAS, In addition to her outstanding efforts with the local union, Ms. Bridges served the Texas chapter of the AFT as chair of the legislative committee and as a member of the executive committee and the executive council; her incisive leadership was rewarded with her election as president of the state chapter in 2005, and over the course of her decade-long tenure, she worked tirelessly in behalf of millions of Texas students and played an instrumental part in expanding the organization's membership from 48,000 to more than 65,000; she also served the federation at the national level as vice president, as chair of the subcommittee on nonbargaining states, and as a member of the organizing and advisory committees; and WHEREAS, Ms. Bridges gave generously of her time and talents to a number of other organizations as well, serving as vice president and as a trustee of the Texas AFL-CIO, as president of the Coastal Bend Labor Council, as a director of the United Way of the Coastal Bend, as chair of the Juvenile Assessment Center, and as a regent of Del Mar College; and WHEREAS, A woman of great vision and integrity, Linda Bridges benefited the lives of countless students and teachers through her immeasurable contributions to public education in Texas, and her achievements will continue to resonate for years to come; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Linda Bridges and extend sincere sympathy to all those who mourn her passing; and, be it further RESOLVED, That when the Texas House of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Linda Bridges. Herrero Hunter Howard Straus Gonz lez Paddie Allen Guerra Parker Alonzo Guillen Paul Alvarado Gutierrez Pe a Anchia Harless Phelan Anderson of Dallas Hernandez Phillips Anderson of McLennan Herrero Pickett Ashby Howard Price Aycock Huberty Raney Bell Hughes Raymond Bernal Hunter Reynolds Blanco Isaac Riddle Bohac Israel Rinaldi Bonnen of Brazoria Johnson Rodriguez of Bexar Bonnen of Galveston Kacal Rodriguez of Travis Burkett Keffer Romero, Jr. Burns Keough Rose Burrows King of Hemphill Sanford Button King of Parker Schaefer Canales King of Taylor Schofield Capriglione King of Uvalde Schubert Clardy Klick Shaheen Coleman Koop Sheets Collier Krause Sheffield Cook Kuempel Simmons Craddick Landgraf Simpson Crownover Larson Smith Cyrier Laubenberg Smithee Dale Leach Spitzer Darby Longoria Springer Davis of Dallas Lozano Stephenson Davis of Harris Lucio III Stickland Deshotel M rquez Thompson of Brazoria Dukes Martinez Thompson of Harris Dutton Martinez Fischer Tinderholt Elkins McClendon Turner of Collin Faircloth Metcalf Turner of Harris Fallon Meyer Turner of Tarrant Farias Miles VanDeaver Farney Miller of Comal Villalba Farrar Miller of Fort Bend Vo Fletcher Moody Walle Flynn Morrison White of Bell Frank Mu oz, Jr. White of Tyler Frullo Murphy Workman Galindo Murr Wray Geren Naishtat Wu Giddings Nev rez Zedler Goldman Oliveira Zerwas Gonzales Otto Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 479 was unanimously adopted by a rising vote of the House on March 5, 2015. Chief Clerk of the House