HR0469 LRB096 13014 GRL 27185 r

1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, Francisco O. Chapa has rendered exemplary service
3 to his nation, his family, and his community and is deserving
4 of recognition for his many accomplishments; and
 
5     WHEREAS, Mr. Chapa was born in Sinton, Texas on October 10,
6 1922; he answered his nation's call to duty with service in the
7 United States Army during World War II, during which he
8 participated in the Allied D-Day landings at Normandy and
9 fought under General George Patton at the Battle of the Bulge;
10 he received several commendations for his actions, including
11 the Good Conduct Medal, the World War II Victory Medal, the
12 American Theater Ribbon, the European-African-Middle Eastern
13 Campaign Ribbon with Silver Star Device, and the Purple Heart
14 with one Oak Leaf Cluster; and
 
15     WHEREAS, After concluding his military service in 1947, Mr.
16 Chapa returned home; on February 27, 1949, he married his wife,
17 Virginia; the couple raised six children, and, over the years,
18 the family has grown to include numerous grandchildren; Mr.
19 Chapa was a longtime civil service employee at Naval Air
20 Station Corpus Christi in Texas; after retiring from that
21 position, he went to work for Del Mar College in Corpus
22 Christi, Texas; and
 

 

 

HR0469 - 2 - LRB096 13014 GRL 27185 r

1     WHEREAS, Dedicated to the ideal of equality in education,
2 Mr. Chapa worked with Dr. Hector Garcia and the American G.I.
3 Forum to bring a discrimination lawsuit against the school
4 district serving the cities of Sinton and Odem; the case, Chapa
5 v. Odem Independent School District, was decided in Mr. Chapa's
6 favor in 1967; this development marked an important step in the
7 effort to end institutionalized discrimination against
8 Hispanics in Texas; and
 
9     WHEREAS, Through his commitment to the greater good and his
10 bravery in both military combat and in the American struggle
11 for civil rights, Francisco Chapa has set an admirable example
12 for future generations; his work will long be treasured by his
13 loved ones and all who know this admirable Texan; therefore, be
14 it
 
15     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
16 NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
17 honor Francisco O. Chapa for his contributions as a soldier and
18 citizen and extend to him sincere best wishes for the future;
19 and be it further
 
20     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
21 presented to Francisco Chapa as a symbol of our esteem and
22 respect.