Hispanic political trailblazer dead at 89
A Hispanic pioneer in the world of state and national politics, former Congressman Eligio “Kika” de la Garza died this week in McAllen. He was 89.
Family told reporters that de la Garza was at Legends Transitional Healthcare. Cause of his death on Monday has not been determined, but he had been in failing health in recent months.
The longtime Democratic representative for the 15th congressional district, de la Garza had an outsized impact in South Texas for more than 40 years, influencing generations of future elected officials from the region.
“Kika was an inspiration to South Texans and led the charge of building a better agricultural industry for our nation during his time as chairman of the Agriculture Committee,” said U.S. Rep. Filemon Vela, D-Brownsville, who credited de la Garza for playing an important role in his decision to run for Congress. “He will be missed.”
Born in Mercedes and raised in Mission, Garza served in the Texas House of Representatives from 1952 to 1964, then held the 15th Congressional District from 1965 to 1997 where he spearheaded far-reaching legislation on agriculture, including establishing a support program for sugar prices similar to the one for milk and creating a multi-billion dollar disaster relief fund to help farmers suffering from the drought of the 1980s.
As a young man, de la Garza served in the U.S. Navy, then went to U.S. Army Artillery School. He was an Army lieutenant and served in the 37th Field Artillery Regiment during the Korean War.
De la Garza would go on to earn his law degree at St. Mary’s University School of Law in San Antonio. For a time he was the only Hispanic member of the Texas House, where he made a name for himself crafting legislation to protect the environment and early childhood education.
He was only the second Hispanic elected to Congress from Texas (Henry B. Gonzalez of San Antonio was the first) and when he was named chairman of the U.S. House Agricultural Committee in 1981, he was the first Hispanic to lead a standing House Committee since 1945, according to Congress.gov.
“There is a tremendous gap between the consumer and the fellow who rides on the tractor or who is picking the fruit,” de la Garza was quoted as saying in a Washington Post article in 1983. “I would like to be remembered as the chairman … bringing together groups that represent agriculture, the farmers and ranchers and consumers — that somehow each one would admit that he couldn’t exist without the other.”
De la Garza also served as a founding member of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. He touted the diversity in the caucus; he himself was a conservative Democrat who introduced amendments calling for a balanced budget and allowing prayer in schools.
Former President Bill Clinton tweeted a brief eulogy Monday: “Kika de la Garza was a good man, very effective congressman, valued friend, & a champion for opportunity and social justice.”
De la Garza is survived by his wife, Lucille, their three children and numerous grandchildren.