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SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 555
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In Memory |
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of |
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Barbara Ann Kazen |
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WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas joins the |
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citizens of Laredo in mourning the loss of noted philanthropist |
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and civic leader Barbara Ann Kazen, who died March 15, 2011, at |
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the age of 70; and |
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WHEREAS, She was born Barbara Ann Sanders in Abilene on |
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January 3, 1941; she attended Texas Christian University and The |
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University of Texas at Austin, where she met her future husband, |
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George P. Kazen; they were married in Abilene on October 27, |
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1961; and |
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WHEREAS, Mrs. Kazen was a highly respected citizen and |
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longtime leader in the Laredo community; she was renowned for her |
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impeccable character, her passion for helping others, and her |
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dedication to humanitarian work; she focused much of her time on |
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working to improve public health, beginning in the 1960s when she |
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first joined the American Cancer Society and coordinated |
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campaigns to spread information and raise funds for cancer |
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research; and |
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WHEREAS, She served in various roles as an auxiliary member |
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of Mercy Regional Medical Center, now known as Laredo Medical |
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Center; she coordinated the DARE program and served as its vice |
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president and president; her work helped the hospital provide |
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health care services for victims of domestic violence, persons |
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addicted to drugs, and those who suffer from catastrophic |
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illnesses; and |
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WHEREAS, Mrs. Kazen had a long history of working to |
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improve the conditions of the poor and otherwise disadvantaged; |
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she served on the board of directors of the Texas Homeless |
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Network and was a founding member and vice president of the |
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Laredo Homeless Coalition; and |
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WHEREAS, She was the founder of Bethany House of Laredo and |
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served on its board of directors for more than 25 years and as its |
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president since 1996; she worked tirelessly to expand its |
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services to include an extensive soup kitchen operation, a |
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shelter complex with a central clearinghouse for homeless and |
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indigent services, and a store for clothing, linens, and |
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furniture; and |
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WHEREAS, She served on the board of directors of the United |
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Way of Laredo and gave generously of her time and resources to |
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improve the arts community; she was a lector and Eucharistic |
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minister at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church; and |
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WHEREAS, One of her more recent philanthropic efforts was |
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the founding of the Laredo Area Community Foundation, on whose |
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board she also served; the foundation acts as a catalyst in |
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developing a permanent endowment to enable effective responses |
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to community needs and to help coordinate the efforts of |
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charitable organizations; and |
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WHEREAS, Barbara Kazen was a member of the Society of |
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Martha Washington and portrayed Martha Washington in 1989 at the |
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organization's 50th anniversary celebration; she has received |
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numerous awards over the years for her outstanding service to her |
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community; and |
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WHEREAS, She received many honors over the course of her |
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life; she was named Woman of the Year by the Catholic War Veterans |
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and Tejano Achiever by the League of United Latin American |
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Citizens; she received the Service Above Self Award from the |
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Laredo Rotary Club and was named to the Laredo Commission for |
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Women's Hall of Fame; she was selected the 2010 Outstanding Texas |
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Local Leader by the John Ben Shepperd Public Leadership Institute |
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Annual Forum; and |
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WHEREAS, Barbara Kazen was a gracious and generous woman |
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who has left an indelible imprint in the Laredo community, and |
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she will long be remembered by the scores of people whose lives |
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she touched; her many friends and her devoted family will |
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treasure forever their memories of the beloved wife, devoted |
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mother, and loving grandmother who blessed their lives; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 82nd |
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Legislature, hereby extend sincere condolences to the bereaved |
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family of Barbara Ann Kazen: her husband, United States District |
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Court Judge George P. Kazen; her sons and daughters-in-law, |
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George and Mary Kazen, John and Hayley Kazen, and Gregory and |
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Marcinda Kazen; her daughter and son-in-law, Elizabeth and |
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Michael Flores; her brother, James Lee Sanders; her sisters, |
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Judith Compton and Virginia "Bitsy" Dotin; and her nine |
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grandchildren; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for |
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her family as an expression of deepest sympathy from the Texas |
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Senate, and that when the Senate adjourns this day, it do so in |
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memory of Barbara Ann Kazen. |
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Zaffirini |
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________________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
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I hereby certify that the |
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above Resolution was adopted by |
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the Senate on March 17, 2011, by a |
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rising vote. |
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________________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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________________________________ |
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Member, Texas Senate |