Courtesy Photo Francisco "Poncho" Duran of Brownsboro. A memorial fund was set up in his name. Francisco "Poncho" Duran passed away Monday, January 26. It was around a year after this hard-working Brownsboro family man started working at his own business full time. Now a memorial fund has been opened at First State Bank of Brownsboro to help adults with children in the Brownsboro Independent School District system, many of whom Duran personally knew, learn English as a second language.

Jeff Smiley, Farmers Insurance Agent in Brownsboro, said Duran was a long-time customer of his.

"He was born February 1 of 1964 in Guanajuato, Mexico," Smiley said. "In 1979 he and his brothers came to Texas and worked for Caldwell Dairy Farm. In December of '79 he went to work for House Nursery in Brownsboro and learned horticulture there."

While still working at House Nursery in 1992, Duran started Duran Plant Farm on CR 3606 near Brownsboro. He worked the farm part time and continued to work at House Nursery. In 2003 Duran Plant Farm expanded to FM 1803 near Murchison, where he began to work full time in January, 2008, providing major services for businesses throughout East Texas.

Francisco - "Poncho" to his friends - is survived by his wife Leonor, who supported him in business and child rearing. They had three sons; Hector, Alexis and Rodrigo, and a daughter named Jennifer. All have been in the Brownsboro school system doing something their father never got the chance to do.

Smiley said Duran, as a dedicated father, wanted his children to have all the things he never had growing up.

"Especially an education, " Smiley added. "He never made it past the third grade and went straight to work at 15. Education for his kids was a top priority to him, and he was always involved in their activities. "

Duran was supportive of his children's extracurricular activities such as FFA and sports, and especially supportive of their academics. He was involved in Brownsboro's English as a Second Language program and encouraged all the Hispanic parents he knew to get involved with their own children's education.

Smiley said there had been a need for an ESL program for parents, and news of a possibility opening up for this program came from the school's Parent Involvement Coordinator, Perry Eaton.

Eaton said Duran was going to be asked to sponsor a local ESL program when he passed away. Now his family has agreed to let a memorial fund be set up for funds to be directed to the ESL program Brownsboro ISD is putting together.

"We will offer an English class to our Hispanic population," Eaton said.

In a recent meeting with ESL parents, Eaton explained the school's situation at that time. Trinity Valley Community +

College had just informed BISD it would not be able to fund any ESL programs for parents, and so BISD would not be able to hold any classes at the school. Many at the meeting expressed disappointment because they wanted to be able to take the classes in Brownsboro.

Brownsboro ISD would supply the teacher and the location, but it still needed the money.

"Jeff called Monday and said if we raised the money we could do it here," Eaton said. "We'll be able to offer English classes to Hispanic parents, absolutely free for them."

Any who want to donate to the fund can ask for the Francisco "Poncho " Duran Memorial Adult English Education Fund at First State Bank in Brownsboro.

Smiley said he thought it would be fitting to honor the

memory of such a hard working and community oriented man with a fund designed to help the community.

"The family hopes it'll eventually grow into a scholarship fund," Smiley said.

It is estimated a single class which meets 10 times will cost $600. The class will be taught by Paula Phillips, Brownsboro teacher.

Eaton said he hopes the class will be able to start within a few weeks.

"So many people in America say, `I wish these people would learn English'," Eaton said. "That's what this is."

The fund was set up by Duran's oldest son, Hector.