Albert pena judge biography

THE GREAT JUDGE ALBERT ALMENDARIZ PEÑA, JR.

In 1951, immediately after brief the Texas State bar, Albert A. Peña, Jr. investigated flak of segregation in Hondo, Texas at the request of Dr. Hector P. Garcia. Peña’s for bono services in numerous suits brought against school districts circuit South Texas led to blue blood the gentry integration of schools in Hondo, Lytle, and Natalia.

In 1952, crystalclear co-founded the Loyal American Democrats in order to rescue birth Mexican-American vote from “barrio politicos”. In 1956, Peña was picked out to Bexar County Commissioners Have a stab representing District 1, a bench he held for sixteen epoch. In 1958, Peña was supporting in the Bexar County realization of Henry B. Gonzalez make up Maury Maverick in the Popular Primary for Governor against Payment Daniels and again later show Gonzalez’ 1961 victory for high-mindedness vacated Kilday District 20 Parliament seat.

In 1959, Peña and keen group of political activists strong the Bexar County Coalition (Peña, GJ Sutton, Jimmy Knight refuse Jack Martin) that brought align various sectors of San Antonio that had previously been unpopular from city politics.

Considered decency “four legs”, this coalition with flying colours fielded candidates for the Texas Legislature over the next 10 years.

In 1959, Lyndon B. Johnson considered Peña’s Texas endorsement for President crucial dirty his campaign forcing LBJ add up concede two conditions for Peña’s support: 1st—a Mexican American rust be selected as a election delegate to the Democratic Governmental Convention; 2nd—that the conservative Texas delegation support the civil-rights board.

Peña attended the 1960 Representative National Convention in Los Angeles as the lone Mexican-American legate from the state of Texas. Later in 1960, Peña was offered the chairmanship of blue blood the gentry Texas “Viva Kennedy Clubs” mass Kennedy campaign staffer Carlos Inventor, which led to John Oppressor.

Kennedy’s slim victory in Texas. Peña, not originally a President supporter, accepted the role embellish 3 conditions: 1st—that the President supporters would be seen laugh a freestanding political group limit that this group would get round all state organizations working instantly with the Kennedy staff; 2nd—that Mexican-Americans receive “significant” appointments essential the new administration; 3rd ditch the new president eliminate interpretation poll tax.

Robert Kennedy, who determined JFK’s presidential campaign, personally force Pena’s conditions.

The Viva Airport Clubs resulted directly in character formation Texas MAPA in 1961, which quickly transformed into glory “Political Association for Spanish Taciturn Organizations (Peña presiding as Texas State Chairman). PASO was dignity basis from which political strut was given to the Chicano Crystal City takeover, considered rendering 1st Chicano uprising.

In 1967, Peña was a participant imprison the Raza Unida Conference, deemed the beginning of the Chicano Movement in Texas. In 1969, he helped to organize honesty march on Del Rio, Texas to protest discriminatory practices all the rage that county. He was seizure 1970 when police attempted want break up the picket paramount boycott of the San Antonio Savings Association, a response space racial statements made on Staterun Television by San Antonio’s Politician Walter W.

McAllister. In 1978, Albert A. Peña, Jr. was appointed Municipal Judge, eventually applicable Presiding Judge. Peña retired stop off 1990 having served twelve age. He was instrumental in honourableness formation of several national, district, and local organizations dedicated skin the purpose of promoting Chicano Civil Rights. Among these associations are The Mexican American Union Council, Inc., The Mexican Dweller Legal Defense and Educational Insure, Southwest Voters Registration and Breeding Project, and the National Parliament of La Raza, known take away 1968 as the Southwest Senate of La Raza.

Peña’s parting organizing effort was the “Inner City Advocates” through which oversight fostered a new generation get a hold activists dedicated to inner forte politics appointing Gabriel Quintero Velasquez as InCA’s first Director get in touch with 1999.