Prominent Texans
Hispanic Heritage Month
Macario Garcia
Staff Sergeant Marcario García was the first Mexican immigrant to receive the Medal of Honor, the United States' highest military decoration. He received the award for his heroic actions as a soldier during World War II.
He was born on January 2, 1920, in Villa de Castano, Mexico and his family moved to Texas in 1923, eventually becoming farm workers in Sugar Land, near Houston.
He joined the U.S. Army during World War II and participated in the historic Allied D-Day invasion in Normandy, where he was wounded. Garcia recovered and rejoined his unit as they advanced across occupied France into Germany.
On November 27, 1944, despite being wounded, Garcia single-handedly destroyed two enemy machine gun positions, killed several soldiers, and captured prisoners. For his bravery, he was awarded the Medal of Honor and promoted to Staff Sergeant. After the war, Garcia returned home, became a U.S. citizen, earned a high school diploma, married, had three children, and worked as a counselor for the Veterans Administration in Houston until his death in 1972. He was also honored by Mexico with the Merito Militar, the country's highest award.
Henry B. Gonzalez
Henry Barbosa González was a prominent American politician and civil rights advocate who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives for Texas's 20th congressional district from 1961 to 1999. Born on May 3, 1916, in San Antonio, Texas, to Mexican immigrants, González became the first Hispanic-American from Texas to serve in Congress.
Before his congressional career, González was involved in local politics and served on the San Antonio City Council. He gained national attention in 1956 when he led a 36-hour filibuster in the Texas State Senate against bills that sought to maintain racial segregation in public schools following the Supreme Court's Brown v. Board of Education decision.
In Congress, González was known for his commitment to social justice, civil rights, and economic equality. He was a strong advocate for affordable housing, healthcare, and education, and he played a significant role in shaping policies related to banking and finance. González chaired the House Banking Committee from 1989 to 1995, where he investigated financial institutions and pushed for reforms.
He served in Congress for 37 years until his retirement in 1999 and passed away on November 28, 2000.
Irma Rangel
Irma Rangel was a trailblazing American politician and educator, best known for her service as a Texas State Representative. Born on May 15, 1931, in Kingsville, Texas, she was the daughter of Mexican immigrants. Rangel made history as the first Mexican-American woman elected to the Texas House of Representatives, where she served from 1977 until her death in 2003.
Rangel was a passionate advocate for education, civil rights, and social justice. She was particularly focused on improving access to education for all Texans, especially minorities and women. One of her most significant achievements was her role in the passage of the Texas Equal Educational Opportunity Act, which ensured equal educational opportunities regardless of race, ethnicity, or economic background.
As chair of the House Higher Education Committee, Rangel played a key role in the creation of the South Texas Border Initiative, which led to increased funding for universities in South Texas. She was also instrumental in the establishment of the Irma Lerma Rangel College of Pharmacy at the Texas A&M University Health Science Center.
Rangel was a pioneer for women and Latinos in politics and left a lasting legacy in the state. She passed away on March 18, 2003, but her impact continues to be felt through the institutions and policies she helped shape.