79S31045 BJM-D

By:  Hegar                                                        H.R. No. 230



R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS, The citizens of El Campo and the State of Texas lost 
a noted civic leader and special education advocate with the 
passing of Mary Meyers Rosenfield, who died on April 16, 2006, at 
the age of 95; and
	WHEREAS, Born in Lubcha, Minsk, in Russia on June 1, 1910, 
Mrs. Rosenfield immigrated to America with her family in 1911, 
settling in El Campo where she graduated from high school in 1929; 
she attended the College of Industrial Arts in Denton to study art 
and design and married George Rosenfield in 1937; and
	WHEREAS, After becoming aware of their daughter's mental 
retardation and refusing to let her child be denied learning 
opportunities, Mrs. Rosenfield founded her own school, which soon 
opened its doors to other area children, and she began an advocacy 
role that would lead to impressive improvements in the lives of 
countless Texans with developmental disabilities; she was 
instrumental in the founding of the Meadow Lane School, now the 
Meadow Lane Resource Center, and in developing El Campo's first 
special education curriculum; her efforts contributed to the 
establishment of the El Campo Opportunity Center and the Second 
Time Around Shop, as well as to the Richmond State School in Fort 
Bend County, which opened in 1968; and
	WHEREAS, In addition to activities with the Voice of the 
Retarded, Parents Association for Retarded Texans, the Richmond 
State School Parents Association, and the Association of Retarded 
Citizens, Mrs. Rosenfield benefited a host of other groups with her 
membership; she was a charter member of the El Campo American Legion 
Auxiliary in El Campo, one of the longest serving life members of 
the Jewish women's service organization, Hadassah, and a member of 
Congregation Beth Yeshrun and the El Campo Garden Club; moreover, 
she volunteered with the Nightingale Hospital and El Campo Memorial 
Hospital, helped establish the El Campo Branch Library, and gave of 
her time and talents to the Wharton County Youth Fair and the BEEs 
of El Campo; and
	WHEREAS, In recognition of her impressive contributions to 
her community and this state, Mrs. Rosenfield was inducted into the 
Texas Women's Hall of Fame in 2004; she also was named the El Campo 
Citizen of the Year in 2003, and earned praise from Governor Rick 
Perry, who honored her with the Yellow Rose Award for her work in 
behalf of mentally retarded citizens of Texas; and
	WHEREAS, Mary Rosenfield was an inspiration to all who knew 
her, and she leaves a remarkable legacy of vision, determination, 
and service to others that will continue to benefit the citizens of 
Texas for years to come; now, therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 79th Texas 
Legislature, 3rd Called Session, hereby pay tribute to the life of 
Mary Meyers Rosenfield and extend deepest sympathy to her 
daughters, Ileene Robinson and Rita Sue Rosenfield, and to all who 
mourn her passing; and, be it further
	RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 
prepared for her family and that when the Texas House of 
Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Mary Meyers 
Rosenfield.