TRIBUTE TO BONNIE TERRY
HON. CHARLES A. GONZALEZ
OF TEXAS
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
FRIDAY FEBRUARY 17, 2006

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a dear friend who left us far too soon.  On January 27, 2006, Bonnie Terry lost her long struggle with breast cancer despite drawing on the same determination she had used to change the lives of many others.  I miss her laugh and her belief that any problem was solvable so long as we worked together.  Bonnie Terry was a community activist, a pillar of faith for the United Methodist Church, and a shining example of the power of people to make the world a better place.

This is a loss not only for her family, friends, and colleagues but also for San Antonio. We lost a relentless yet optimistic advocate for a range of causes.  The causes she fought for reads like a master list of different organizations to help the disadvantaged.  Bonnie worked with Habitat for Humanity, United Way, American Red Cross and Network Power/Texas, which promotes women's issues. During and after the 1998 floods, Bonnie served as executive director of the San Antonio Interfaith Flood Recovery Alliance. Our community is now poorer for her absence.

So relentless was her drive, not even illness stopped Bonnie from working.  While fighting breast cancer, she visited my office during the Alamo Breast Cancer Foundation’s annual visit last May. She told her story to me and to other lawmakers.  Like so many other Americans, she had fallen into the widening fissures of our health care system and found herself in need of the type of help she had spent her life providing to others.  Bonnie testified for the need for insurance support for cancer treatment at a National Breast Cancer Coalition meeting in Washington seeking legislative policy for access for quality care. Moreover, Bonnie made a point of attending the Coalition’s meeting with Sen. Hillary Clinton.

Like many in our city, Bonnie hailed from elsewhere, but there should be no doubt that she made San Antonio her home.  Born in Germany, Bonnie was the child of a military family that eventually settled in San Antonio.  She graduated from Jefferson High School, San Antonio College, and the University of Texas at San Antonio.  However, even while working on her bachelor’s degree, it was apparent that Bonnie would match her education to her faith in making her life’s work.  People will always seek a higher purpose in life.  Bonnie found hers in serving others and in doing so making their lives better.

If Bonnie’s determination was the vessel for her actions, faith was her North Star.  Steeped in the United Methodist Church, Bonnie sought to implement the teachings of the Lord.  She served as an urban missionary at Travis Park United Methodist Church where she energized a food bank and outreach program, which the Rev. Bert Clayton, a longtime friend, said this was one of her greatest feats. Her next project focused on the downtown's homeless community.  The Rev. John Flowers, Pastor at Travis Park, said Bonnie helped envision a day center for homeless or transitional people there that opened in 2004.

My prayers and thoughts go out to her sisters, brothers, nieces and nephews.  I hope it comforts them in their time of grief that Bonnie was a beloved figure in San Antonio.  We will miss her.