He demanded equal opportunity for Mexican-American students, who were separated from Anglo students and taught in subpar facilities with inexperience

Garcia's greatest passion: education

By Adriana Garza (Contact)
Originally published 04:33 a.m., January 18, 2008
Updated 04:33 a.m., January 18, 2008


Dr. Hector P. Garcia was born 94 years ago this week in a small southern town in the Mexican state of Tamaulipas, one of seven children born to parents who were teachers.

His life would come to symbolize the hope and activism that marked the Hispanic civil rights struggle, and his actions helped to change the Hispanic experience in the country forever. Birthday celebrations in Corpus Christi and San Antonio on Thursday honored that vision and life mission.

He was passionate about many things -- practicing medicine, fighting for equal rights for Hispanic veterans -- but his greatest passion may have been for education.

Garcia, founder of the American GI Forum, developed a love for learning early in life.

His family -- parents Jose and Faustina Garcia and his six siblings -- fled from revolution-torn Mexico to the Rio Grande Valley in 1917.

Jose was forced to leave his teaching career behind and open a dry-goods store to support his family.

But education remained a cornerstone of the Garcia family.

Jose used the edifice of his grocery store as a quasi-schoolroom and taught his children the basics, including English.

Young Hector was sometimes difficult to corral for his lessons. His love for baseball often rivaled his love for learning and served as a distraction. But life always came back to learning.

Garcia would go on to earn a bachelor's degree from the University of Texas and a medical degree from the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. His siblings all became educated professionals.

Education became a focus for Garcia and his American GI Forum. The civil rights leader took on school segregation and became an important and public figure on the issue. He demanded equal opportunity for Mexican-American students, who were separated from Anglo students and taught in subpar facilities with inexperienced teachers.

At home, he was just as demanding when it came to schooling. For Dr. Hector, education was more than just a cause, it was a deeply personal commitment.

Cecilia Akers, one of Dr. Hector's three daughters, said her father set high standards for his children, especially when it came to grades and schoolwork.

"He was so intense about us finishing school," Akers said. "When we were 8 and 9 he was already trying to get us to focus on what we were going to do for a career."

Coming home from school with a B or a C was bad news for the Garcia children. Dr. Hector expected all A's.

While growing up with such high expectations was difficult, Akers, a physical therapist, now appreciates her father's passion for education. In keeping with his motto, "Education is freedom and freedom is everyone's business," Garcia believed it was education that would ensure his daughters' independence, Akers said.

"He wanted us all to be independent," Akers said. "He didn't want us to have to depend on a man or anyone to support us. He was really ahead of his time."

Former staff reporter and Corpus Christi native Adriana Garza is pursuing a master's degree in political science at Texas A&M; University-Kingsville. Contact her at adriana.garza@tamuk.edu.

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Any "indicating" as defined by the Texas Family Code Section 51.03(b) 1 ~ CCISD is guilty of fraud

(b) A child taken into custody may be detained prior to hearing on the petition only if:

1. the child is likely to abscond or be removed from the court's jurisdiction;
2. suitable supervision, care, or protection for the child is not being provided by a parent, guardian, custodian, or other person;
3. the child has no parent, guardian, custodian, or other person able to return the child to the court when required;
4. the child may be dangerous to himself or herself or the child may threaten the safety of the public if released;
5. the child has previously been found to be a delinquent child or has previously been convicted of a penal offense punishable by a term in jail or prison and is likely to commit an offense if released; or
6. the child's detention is required under subsection (f), below.

(c) If the child is not released, a request for detention hearing shall be made and promptly presented to the court, and an informal detention hearing shall be held promptly, but not later than the second working day after the child is taken into custody. If the child is taken into custody on a Friday or Saturday, then the detention hearing shall be held on the first working day after the child is taken into custody.

(d) A release of a child to an adult must be conditioned on the agreement of the adult to be subject to the jurisdiction of the juvenile court and to an order of contempt by the court if the adult, after notification, is unable to produce the child at later proceedings.

(e) If a child being released under this section is expelled from school in a county with a population greater than 125,000, the release shall be conditioned on the child's attending a juvenile justice alternative education program pending a deferred prosecution or formal court disposition of the child's case.

(f) A child who is alleged to have engaged in delinquent conduct and to have used, possessed, or exhibited a firearm in the commission of the offense shall be detained until the child is released at the direction of the judge of the juvenile court, a substitute judge, or a referee appointed, including an oral direction by telephone, or until a detention hearing is held.

Nueces Democrats: Robert Zamora:A Man of Strength & Stability ; Winning Back The Nueces County Democratic Party For All South Texas Democrats

Nueces Democrats: Robert Zamora:A Man of Strength & Stability ; Winning Back The Nueces County Democratic Party For All South Texas Democrats


Zamora Announces for Party Chair

Updated: Jan 1, 2008 12:31 AM

A local attorney has announced he is running for chairman of the Nueces County Democratic Party.

There has been talk that several people might run. On Monday, attorney Robert Zamora officially announced that he has filed for the position, which is now held by Alex Garcia Jr.

"I have not only experience as a lawyer operating my own business for close to 30 years," Zamora said. "What I would like to do is lend the energy and the experience that I have to the operation of the Democratic Party here in Nueces County.

The race will be decided in the state presidential primary in March.