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THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release July 26, 1996

STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT

Hillary and I are deeply saddened to learn of the death of Dr. Hector P. Garcia. The founder of the American GI Forum, Dr. Garcia fought for half a century for the civil and educational rights of Mexican Americans. A national hero and decorated army veteran, Dr. Garcia became the first Hispanic American to be awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor.

Recently, Texas A&M University in Corpus Christi, his hometown, dedicated the Hector P. Garcia Plaza and established the Hector P. Garcia Scholarship Endowment. It is a fitting tribute to a man who fought for the rights of Hispanic Americans, veterans and all Americans throughout his life. Hillary and I extend our deepest condolences to his family and to all the Latino community.

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