[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 34 (Thursday, March 16, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E398]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
______
Hon. Charles A. Gonzalez
of Texas
In the House of Representatives
Thursday, March 16, 2006
Mr. Gonzalez. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 80th birthday of Terrellita Maverick, a member of one of San Antonio's and Texas' most distinguished families. The Maverick family has long been committed to independence of mind, fairness, and equality for all. Some claim the Mavericks can trace their roots to Boston at the eve of the American Revolution. While that may be hard to prove, we do know they have shaped San Antonio and Texas in ways that few families have.
Terrellita's ancestor, Samuel Augustus Maverick, was an original signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence. An important figure in the founding of the Texas Republic, he later served in the Congress of the Texas Republic, as mayor of San Antonio, and in the State legislature.
His family's name entered the lexicon because he refused to brand his cattle unlike all other cattlemen in Texas. Maverick originally meant an unbranded male calf, yet the word soon expanded to reflect the family's independent ways. Yet, being a Maverick did not mean individualism for individualism's sake. Rather, their individualism was founded on never turning one's back on doing what was right.
Terrellita's father, Maury Maverick, Sr., represented San Antonio in the House from 1934-1938. In typical Maverick fashion, he defied the city's political machine and won his seat on the strength of San Antonio's Latino vote. A fiery New Deal advocate and close ally of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Rep. Maverick spoke his mind and fought for civil rights at a time when doing so put one's political career and life at risk. Still, Rep. Maverick fought for his constituents and for the causes he believed were right.
Like his illustrious forebearer, he became Mayor of San Antonio and thanks to his vision for the city, La Villita was restored. La Villita was San Antonio's first neighborhood and this project spurred other restoration and construction projects in downtown San Antonio. Mayor Maverick was probably the single person most responsible for the appearance of downtown San Antonio today.
Moreover, his service to Texas and our nation were not limited to elected positions. During World War I, he was an infantry lieutenant and won the Silver Star and a Purple Heart. After his service as mayor, he served in a number of capacities to ensure that our production was efficient during WWII.
Terrellita's brother, Maury Maverick, Jr., was another in this family of individualists. Maury served his nation during World War II as a marine. During the 1950s, Maury represented San Antonio in the Texas House of Representatives along side my father and fought McCarthyism and racism. He and other members killed a bill that would have given communists the death penalty. In 1960, he was one of the 71 candidates to run for Vice-President's Johnson's Senate seat.
He then began to practice law but concentrated on pro bono legal work for powerless or unpopular people. He successfully argued against a law barring 'mixed-race' boxing matches and won a case before the Supreme Court for a San Antonio bookseller accused of possessing allegedly 'seditious' papers. He passed away in 2003 and our city misses his voice and his conscience.
However, I am pleased that Terrellita still makes San Antonio her home and is dedicated to improving our city. When not busy as a mother or grandmother, she is an active member of the Democratic Party and ACLU. She is every bit a Maverick and our community is the better for it. So, I would like to send my birthday wishes to one of San Antonio's distinguished citizens.
This has long been a family committed to fighting the fights that may not have been fashionable but that history declared right and just.
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E398]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
______
Hon. Charles A. Gonzalez
of Texas
In the House of Representatives
Thursday, March 16, 2006
Mr. Gonzalez. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 80th birthday of Terrellita Maverick, a member of one of San Antonio's and Texas' most distinguished families. The Maverick family has long been committed to independence of mind, fairness, and equality for all. Some claim the Mavericks can trace their roots to Boston at the eve of the American Revolution. While that may be hard to prove, we do know they have shaped San Antonio and Texas in ways that few families have.
Terrellita's ancestor, Samuel Augustus Maverick, was an original signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence. An important figure in the founding of the Texas Republic, he later served in the Congress of the Texas Republic, as mayor of San Antonio, and in the State legislature.
His family's name entered the lexicon because he refused to brand his cattle unlike all other cattlemen in Texas. Maverick originally meant an unbranded male calf, yet the word soon expanded to reflect the family's independent ways. Yet, being a Maverick did not mean individualism for individualism's sake. Rather, their individualism was founded on never turning one's back on doing what was right.
Terrellita's father, Maury Maverick, Sr., represented San Antonio in the House from 1934-1938. In typical Maverick fashion, he defied the city's political machine and won his seat on the strength of San Antonio's Latino vote. A fiery New Deal advocate and close ally of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Rep. Maverick spoke his mind and fought for civil rights at a time when doing so put one's political career and life at risk. Still, Rep. Maverick fought for his constituents and for the causes he believed were right.
Like his illustrious forebearer, he became Mayor of San Antonio and thanks to his vision for the city, La Villita was restored. La Villita was San Antonio's first neighborhood and this project spurred other restoration and construction projects in downtown San Antonio. Mayor Maverick was probably the single person most responsible for the appearance of downtown San Antonio today.
Moreover, his service to Texas and our nation were not limited to elected positions. During World War I, he was an infantry lieutenant and won the Silver Star and a Purple Heart. After his service as mayor, he served in a number of capacities to ensure that our production was efficient during WWII.
Terrellita's brother, Maury Maverick, Jr., was another in this family of individualists. Maury served his nation during World War II as a marine. During the 1950s, Maury represented San Antonio in the Texas House of Representatives along side my father and fought McCarthyism and racism. He and other members killed a bill that would have given communists the death penalty. In 1960, he was one of the 71 candidates to run for Vice-President's Johnson's Senate seat.
He then began to practice law but concentrated on pro bono legal work for powerless or unpopular people. He successfully argued against a law barring 'mixed-race' boxing matches and won a case before the Supreme Court for a San Antonio bookseller accused of possessing allegedly 'seditious' papers. He passed away in 2003 and our city misses his voice and his conscience.
However, I am pleased that Terrellita still makes San Antonio her home and is dedicated to improving our city. When not busy as a mother or grandmother, she is an active member of the Democratic Party and ACLU. She is every bit a Maverick and our community is the better for it. So, I would like to send my birthday wishes to one of San Antonio's distinguished citizens.
This has long been a family committed to fighting the fights that may not have been fashionable but that history declared right and just.
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