By J. Lyn Carl, GalleryWatch.com
Austin, TX – We lost a true Texas hero last night with the passing or our dear friend State Rep. Irma Rangel," said Sen. Eddie Lucio (D-Brownsville) as the Texas Senate today paid tribute to the former House member who succumbed to brain cancer Monday.
Lucio said there will be a lot of tributes to Rangel in the coming days for her many years of service to the state. "She touched so many lives in so many ways," said Lucio. "I have seen so many tears as I walked down the halls of this great building this morning.
"Irma, we will never forget you. And we will be watching the children of Texas reaping the benefits of your love for them for generations to come."
"Nobody can ever forget her style or her voice," said Sen. Teel Bivins (R-Amarillo), who worked closely with Rangel on education issues. "She was an amazing advocate. She always said, 'Senator, do this for the students.'" Bivins called her a "tireless advocate" for higher education, a "real pioneer" in Texas and a "great asset" to the Texas Legislature. Bivins said the legislature has lost a "distinguished and great colleague."
Rangel was first elected to the House in 1977, said Sen. Gonzalo Barrientos (D-Austin), who served with Rangel in the House. "During that period Irma Rangel accomplished a distinguished record that showed courage, passion and dedication."
Barrientos noted Rangel was the first Mexican-American woman in the history of the state to be elected to the Texas House and the first Mexican-American to serve as chair of the House Higher Education Committee.
"She was articulate, she was smart, and she was tough," said Barrientos. "She had to be. When you're a woman in the Texas legislature and a minority, you almost have to be twice as good as everybody else."
Sen. Florence Shapiro (R-Plano)said the word "tenacity" best described Rangel, not only for her work on behalf of education in Texas but as she fought her battles with cancer.
"Today a hero has fallen but an angel has risen," said Sen. Leticia Van de Putte (D-San Antonio), who called Rangel the "den mother" for those who served with her in the House. She also noted that Rangel was a role model for many young Hispanic women.
"She has created a path through her leadership that all can follow, whether you're a Hispanic woman or not," said Van de Putte. "Her cancer was just another challenge for her to overcome."
"Her legacy is great," said Van de Putte. "She changed our lives and she changed the lives of many who will never know her name."
Sen. Steve Ogden, who also served with Rangel in the House, praised Rangel for being able to convince people of the rightness of her opinion because of her wit and sincerity.
The Senate observed a moment of silence in Rangel's memory.