Editorial: VICTOR LARA ORTEGON: Spanish Radio Newscaster And Cultural Symbol by HOMER0 VILLARREAL

Corpus Christi/Nueces County, TX --  Victor Lara Ortegon like a meteorite he lit up the heavens for Mexican Americans in the Coastal Bend when he relocated here after working in Houston for KULU radio (since 1950).  He immigrated to the United States  with the love of his life – Hortencia; they had one son: Victor P. Lara Ortegon Jr.

A compelling and positive reference person for the Hispanic Community he became.  Victor Lara Ortegon functioned as a Spanish Radio Newscaster (and host of “Comentarios”) for KUNO radio since 1953 until his retirement in 2000.  KUNO radio at the time was owned by non-Hispanics.  “KUNO had a profit motive and understandably so; they wanted to capture the huge Mexican American advertising market at the time,” he told the founding couple of El Defenzor the day he announced his retirement. “I felt an obligation to focus on hard news during my early Spanish newscast to keep the masses of listeners informed.”

He found inspiration in the work of individuals of his time such as Dr. Hector P. Garcia, founder of the American GI Forum who set out to eliminate segregation and humanize institutions.  He interacted with Dr. Hector and discussed how a campaign to promote education as a way to promote social occupational mobility among Mexican Americans was indispensable.  Many Hispanics of the time worked in the fields and other low echelon jobs and the truancy laws were ignored (when it came to being applied to such Hispanic families).

The air of transformation and change was in the air.  There were few media outlet that dealt sincerely with Hispanic issues and the pressing norms of tolerating societal variation.  After a decade or so with KUNO, he convinced the management to pilot an “open mic” program during the noon hour on Morgan Ave., (he would run a phone wire from a building and broadcasted on the side of the street).  Eventually “COMENTARIOS” became institutionalized and found a hefty roll of advertisers.  By the late 1960s, a few more radical voices such as MAYO (Mexican American Youth Organization) and RAZA UNIDA (were competing for a captive audience).  LULAC and the American GI Forum were considered more conservative and too ultra-patriotic organizations at the time (LULAC especially was considered too middle-class oriented and did not allow immigrants to join initially).

Lara Ortegon was initially reluctant to give the new left a voice on “COMENTARIOS” because the management of the station had voiced some subtle protestations. But the issues were too many to ignore.  First the way the voting districts of the municipality of Corpus Christi were arranged became challenged in court – specialists such as Attorney William Bonilla (who became national president of LULAC) participated.  The claim was that they “diluted” the chances of Mexican Americans being elected to city positions. 

The social debates continued to erupt on “COMENTARIOS”.  Other issues followed. A young college student – Carlos Guerra (a native of Robstown, Texas) – who had taken a radical stance and help found MAYO at Texas A&I University (Kingsville) and had gained national attention during the 1960s after a dorm mother did not allow him to pick up his date (a non-Hispanic young woman) to a function.   Carlos Guerra showed up on comentarios with long hair and an “army” jacket blasting the “good ole boy” Anglo Power Structure of the Area.  Guerra went on to appear in the Austin Statesman and on the cover of Rollin’ Stone Magazine (Guerra would eventually become a commentator in the latter part of his life for the San Antonio Expresss-News).

But “COMENTARIOS” was not only about politics.  It had a platform without contingent parameters. If one’s house had burned down, it was the appropriate place to ask for aid. But overall, Host Lara-Ortegon used it to reinforce the cultural and history of the Mexican American – little did he realize at first the huge socio-educational and political base of El Pueblo Hispano.

Victor Lara Ortegon was born on September 28, 1924 to Gregorio Lara Galindo and Juana Ortegon Alderete in Candela Coahuila, Mexico.  Later his parents relocated to Laredo, Texas where they resided just across the street from a radio station.  He went to work for the XEFE station in 1948.  He received technical training as a newscaster.

Lara Ortegon orbited the civil-rights leaders of the time and the bug of politics stung him; and it seemed essential in keeping things in perspective in reference to one’s values and belief structure.  He was a middle of the spectrum Democrat.  Politicos like Carlos Truan (a native of Kingsville) emerged running State Representative and later State Senator;  Solomon P. Ortiz (a native of Robstown) who ran for various posts victoriously: constable, county commissioner, sheriff, and later U.S. Representative and numerous others.  Educational, union, business leaders were emerging: a new middle class composed as a novel ethno-class of Mexican Americans was emerging in the region.  New middle class neighborhoods emerged flaunting the individual success of a few powerbrokers – as well as the new ethno-class and social pretentions and assimilation that go along with it.  But even then a middle-class segmentation had emerged between Hispanics and non-Hispanics.  The issues of the day were vast and needed an outlet for conflict-resolution.

The diverse voices of diverse political leanings in the community were gradually integrated.  Benny Benavides (who was informally bestowed the title of “co-host”) at “COMENTATIOS” became an added component.  The latter Benavides was retired but had a vast military background and was one of the original members to file a lawsuit against Frito-Lay for the “Frito Bandido” stereotypes promoted in many a commercial of the time.   Lara-Ortegon due to the collective needs of the time began to integrate and reinforce a strong political identity and base via his Spanish language and culturally charged radio program.  Anglocentric view of the time were challenged on his show; bilingual, multi-cultural education was openly promoted as an alternative.   Even non-Hispanic voices joined in the conflict-resolution of the day.  “COMENTARIOS”.  This noon show became more than just a plug for politicos, but a place where political accountability was demanded and ethics were shaped.  “Politicos that felt too big for their bridges, were brought down a peg or two,” David Noyola, a community activist shared. “Victor also tried to identify positive role models in the community for the youth to look up to – to find the inspiration to shape society this that way – such as the late Selena Quintanilla-Perez.”

Luis Alonzo Munoz eventually bought KUNO – one of Lara Ortegon’s colleague a few years before Victor Lara Ortegons retirement in the year 2000; at a time after it had been sold and consolidated by CLEAR CHANNEL COMMUNICATIONS. Ortegon worked with other great colleagues like Ponce De Leon,Panchito Fregoso Gomez, Joe Gonzalez, Virginia Constante and others.  Years earlier a scholarship had been established in his name at Del Mar College; a street named in his honor (near Holly Rd. and Greenwood Drive), a Medical Satellite Clinic on Greenwood (near the Molina neighborhood)  also carried his name.  Como decia su tio Gerardo en Candela “Este arroz ya se cocio” Que en paz descanse el senior Victor Lara Ortegon.

[A funeral mass was held at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, December 23, 2013 at our Lady of Pilar Catholic Church. Interment followed at Rose Hill Memorial Park.]

WILLIAM D. BONILLA (former owner of the BONILLA LAWFIRM BUILDING) responds to accusations by the CALLER-TIMES!

Corpus Christi, TX -- A second video clip interview with WILLIAM D. BONILLA SR. has been released by El Defenzor.  Bonilla's remarks are in respond to a December 4th article put out by the CORPUS CHRISTI CALLER-TIMES entitled "The BONILLAS ARE IN LEGAL TROUBLE AGAIN!".

Please view video clip (it is the property of El Defenzor.. contact homervillarreal@gmail.com); Media Entities please contact Mr. Homer Villarreal at the cited email to acquire the indispensable permission to use it.

Please click on link below to view an interview with William D. Bonilla Sr.:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4CUKPZdgqc&feature=youtu.be

WILLIAM BONILLA SR. DEFINES THE CALLER-TIMES IN ONE WORD: "RUTHLESS".

Corpus Christi, TX -- As the Corpus Christi Caller-Times times undergoes a change of the guard: the new administrative wave passionately creates targets in a clear attempt to get ratings.  On December 4, 2013 the Caller-Times targeted the "BONILLAS" (lawfirm at the corner of Port & Morgan Ave.) in Corpus Christi, Texas).  The main headline read "BONILLAS AGAIN IN LEGAL TROUBLE."  This article was reinforced by a subsequent one two days later claiming there were outstanding legal complains at the State Bar and implicitly and explicitly implying their were legal charges being seriously considered by Nueces County District Attorney Mark Skurka.

El Defenzor and El Pueblito -- two publications published/edited by Homero Villarreal are actively investigating the "SHOCK AND AWE" propaganda attacks launched by the CALLER-TIMES targeting the BONILLAS.  A hash of interviews are in the works both with the BONILLAS and the District Attorney's Office as well as power figures in the community who are openly providing valuable insight into the "demonization" campaign as one prominent businessman on the inside put it.  The Caller-Times (appointed informally as the "mouthpiece" to promote DESTINATION BAYFRONT) failed in its mission and now are resorting to scapegoating tactics to detract their inadequacies before the power structure it appears, according to inside analysts.

As a teaser, the following video is being put out by  EL DEFENZOR/EL PUEBLITO outlining initial stance and answer from one of the accused parties, the "elder" Bonilla as the Caller-Times put it so expediently:

The following video link can be shared by regular residents on the net and via phone smart systems (except for MEDIA entities -- who should get permission from homervillarreal@gmail.com before attempting to do so).

This video teaser -- an interview of WILLIAM D. BONILLA SR. -- sends a piercing chord of righteous indignation throughout the community; here he cites the falsity of claims by the CALLER-TIMES and cites the possibility of a lawsuit:

PLEASE CLICK ON LINK BELOW TO VIEW the interview (teaser): (more to follow soon)

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_EyrAdMqpc&feature=youtu.be

MOVEMENT AGAINST DESTINATION CORPUS CHRISTI HIJACKED!!!

Editorial:
DESTINATION BAYFRONT was defeated.  Now a dual John Kelly (who has consistent connections with the SOCIALIST PARTY -- USA) and Susie Saldana-Luna (found guilty of slapping a campaign worker during an election) are trying to claim the ultimate jot of credit for the political defeat of the 45 million dollar bond push.   The NEIGHBORHOODS FIRST organization masterminded by respected  businessman Butch Escobedo (the vice President of the Organization) has been contaminated by the cited dual.  The dual went before the city council after the election boasting about what the "people" and "the membership" (of NEIGHBORHOODS FIRST) want for the city of corpus Christi... "Who appointed them my voice or your voice?  What tyrants have hijacked the movement against the bond," said a board member of NEIGHBORHOODS FIRST.
    "Kelly defines it as a defeat of the CAPITALISTS BY the working class (bourgeoisie); Luna, to waterdown the scandals that mill in the back-region of her psyche.  This was not what the sincere struggle of NEIGHBORHOODS FIRST was all about," the cited board member said.
   "We wanted accountability in government and had nothing to do with the wild-eye rhetoric and philosophy of a few who have hijacked it."

Editorial: THE CALLER-TIMES TRYING TO DEFINE OUR LEADERS...destination bayfront leader Kelly? Way Off!

The brain behind NEIGHBORHOODS FIRST opposing Destination Bayfront was BUTCH ESCOBEDO... not the John Kelly  (who has been tied in with the SOCIALIST PARTY -- of the UNITED STATES)... Many of us opposed DESTINATION BAYFRONT for legitimate reasons...Many groups and organizations were involved in the resistance.  However, the Caller Times gives el socialista credit now after the DEFEAT of the pro=DEVELOPER's agenda; The Caller-Times wants to define for us our leaders... JOHN KELLY... Are they joking?  The stats are there: the  wealthy and affluent support DESTINATION $.  The overwhelming majority that would rather have the dollars channeled into infrastructure and neighborhoods were low-income Hispanics..and other disenfranchised groups... We -- the majority -- are not socialists (we don't attend their conventions and write articles for their journals == but John Kelly as repeatedly); nor do we want to stamp out the "free enterprise system"and replace with collectivism and communism... Kelly has participated with the  socialisst (in Texas and at the National Level): it's his right, but is his view is not represententative of the majority on NEIGHBORHOODS FIRST.   He has submitted articles to anti-Free Enterprise organizations (and it his his right -- make no mistake about it -- but it does nor mirror the philosophy of the majority in NEIGHBORHOODS FIRST)...  The majority in NEIBHBORHOOD FIRST are not linked to agenda that includes a global war  (ideological or physical) between the Capitalists and the bourgeoisie (Marxism)... There are a few socialist sites on the internet praising KELLY for raising "class consciousness"...   As  for us we don't want a class war.. nor reconstruction society and destroy its fundamental institutions.  "John Kelly" is no genuine, bona fide friend of the Hispanic Community especially in reference to Civil Rights"-- a quote from JOE ORTIZ, civils rights leader for various Civil rights organizations in the region.. Escobedo who was involved with NEIGHBORHOODS FIRST and its (vice president)  said he did it to hold the "network for profit" (an elite group) from using public dollars for personal gain.... The CALLER-TIMES was way off in defining the true leadership in this movement to hold politicos accountable.

THE CAROL SCOTT "bad breath" MARKETING EFFECT & Destination Bayfront's Failure

Editorial:
THE CAROL SCOTT "bad breath" MARKETING EFFECT & Destination Bayfront's Failure

OPERATION BAYFRONT IS DEAD?    No! The movement by a network for profit (who promises jobs and economic development -- i.e., Al Jones (of american bank), J. Fulton, the infamous couple Carol and Mark (who make huge profits from marketing etc) will come back under a new name like "MegaSize Corpus Christi".  They've ruined the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (co opted it and use it as a front group for their "person   development" )...  It's spooky, the agendas that lurk in the small rooms at American Bank...  The old patron's machine is still around.... Destination Bayfront as the "coal energy" and the "beach take over movement" failed because of one person that is so disliked by many activists: Carol Scott (who sits on the school board and uses used the Corpus Christi Chamber during her tenure as president to monopolize profits (she created Scott Public Relations) but it was too obvious -- now, she gave it a German name: Kailo (glorying Hitler's Germany I guess.. hehehehe or a plastic integrity).  The infamous Carol: the so-called "trustee" of our kids at CCISD; whose bad-breath marketing is destroying the economy of Corpus Christi and making formerly low profile powe-rbrokers and members of the elite power structure: high profile...targets of public scrutiny.

Why have they taken millions of dollars in taxpayer dollars and placed it in economic castles in the sky projects that they benefit and not been fully held accountable?  Because the CALLER-TIMES continues as their mouthpiece -- misleading the masses and co-opting groups like the front group known as LULAC 444: sounds like the mark of Satan; where everyone know the founding chapter of LULAC is Chapter #1 -- y ya. They sit on the CCREDC as corporate members yet like the Hartes before them sit back reading their CAMPS OF THE SAINTS edition (Edna Harte was one of the English editors of the book that was banned in Europe for a long time -- a racist,racist book: unbelievable).

DESTINATION BAYFRONT: FOOD FOR THE RATAS (rats)!!!

Editorial:Destination Bayfront or Final Destination (the horror movie)?
Destination Bayfront is comida para las ratas "food for rats".   You might be shock at the analogy, but once you read on:  an awakening will begin to transpire.
"Destination Bayfront" is not the first ruse, trick, cunning scam to sell the taxpayers money.  It all dates back to the 1970s when these unscrupulous movements started to dupe taxpayers -- to create social welfare for the rich or those who control positions of power.  There might be new politicos now pitching for the hidden power structure who orbit the secret halls and meeting places at American Bank and other places and the unannounced meeting of key administrative persons that sit on the Corpus Christi Regional Economic Development Corporation.
"Destination Bayfront" is comida para las ratas "food for rats".   There is a hidden power structure that makes a living off taxpayers by selling "shoot for the moon" economic development and progress,but it is "progress" (better comida para las ratas).   Other names have been sold to the taxpayers in years past.  A club of bankers, construction companies and politicos are the main skeleton of the organization.   The real influentials lurk in the dark shadows.   They get the construction companies or  those who will benefit from the project to bankroll the marketing..in this chapter-- Destination Bayfront; then the politicos (politicians in office) who get bankrolled by them to pitch and sell their new ventures to dupe the taxpayers.   Then the bankers make loans to the city and construction companies at ridiculous interests.  (more to come).

WHY DID ROBSTOWN GLORIFY THE NAME OF COTTON PICKER (Piscador)?

Editorial: WHY DID ROBSTOWN GLORIFY THE NAME OF COTTON PICKER (Piscador)?

Robstown, TX –  As many area residents prepare to celebrate COTTONFEST this weekend, a little history of the COTTON PICKER (el piscador) is in order.  The small City of Robstown has evolved over the years. The first settlers were mostly those working on the railroad.  The town was founded officially in the early 1900s. It was named after Robert Driscoll – a wealthy landowner in the region.  Land speculators later came to the area to buy parcels of land as two railroads intersected: the Texas-Mexican with the Missouri Pacific.  It was not much of a developed site early on: small pockets of settlements were scattered here and there.  The relationships between Anglos (i.e., a general umbrella of ethnicities: German, Czech, Bohemian, English, Irish and a few others) and Mexican Americans were distant.

The majority of Mexican Americans – then -- lived mostly in the unincorporated areas of the city such as Casa Blanca, San Pedro and Blue Bonnet.  But then again most of the qualified Mexicans Americans served as cheap agricultural labor for those in privileged positions and growers. These were the societal arrangements; these and others things were the social ethnic segmentation.

Conversely during the 1920s and 1930s, the cotton industry grew immensely.  Cotton picking (piscando) – this was the main occupational demand, a demand that brought many to the area especially Mexican Americans and other minorities and even undocumented ones.  One Texas Almanac records that the city had more cotton gins than any other city in the state and probably the nation during these early years.   

The agricultural industry grew into an all-time high.  The ritual of Cotton picking and its entailing industry brought the best of the cultures of the North and the best of the South together.  Sure there were cultural clashes and social hazing and all the other fancy terms sociology books record; but there was also interchange of ideas and culture and even some degree of alloying.  Eventually this assortment and merger created a common identity with the COTTON INDUSTRY.   A whole rung of titles emerged to identify each workers place in the hierarchy --  from the common piscador (cotton picker) to the jefes (administrator types).  They all felt reliant on each other – like a huge organism that depends on all its parts to function: its liver, its lungs, its heart to stay alive.  

This organism of a structure gave rise to the identity of the city  --  Robstown, was a city no longer just named after a wealthy rancher, but it contained the collective soul of a people tied to the land for survival.  It is no secret that as the years rolled by and schools were formalized – the core athletic team would be known as the “Cotton Pickers”  (los piscadores).  A historical paradox?  Those at the bottom of the social spectrum, of the occupation/job structure were glorified. They kept the motor of the economy running. 

Cotton Pickers (piscadores) – this was a label one carried with pride; it was not stained even with the callousness that social pretension can bring to such a matter.  Cotton Pickers represented hard, diligent working citizens – defined by the bona fide collective spirit and reinforced by the obvious admiration of the majority. 

To this day, one can travel anywhere in the nation and more likely find a family who had a relative that came to work here.  Robstown was booming during this phase in history.   But as all economic movements they subside and sometimes die; they become “defunct” as one poet put it.  But the collective spirit of Robstown has not become “defunct” despite economic transformations and the social-political restructuring of the times. The Industrial Revolution has come and retrenched and the word “Cotton Picker” today still carries a thousand of jabs of pride as it once did during its early history. It seems to be chiseled into the identity of us all who lived here. 

[Note: Please make plans to attend COTTONFEST this weekend at the FAIRGROUNDS (see ADVERTISMENT OF PAGE 3 & 4.  We really should never feel ashamed of being Cotton Pickers;  Cotton Pickers we were.   Cotton Pickers we are; and as Cotton Pickers we shall die.] 

THE POWER STRUCTURE's ROLE in the NAMING of the new CCISD SCHOOL

THE POWER STRUCTURE'S AGENDA IN THE NAMING OF THE  SCHOOL AT CORPUS CHRISTI ISD
Corpus Christi, TX -- Can a power structure in a city like Corpus Christi  influence the planning out  how the process for the naming of a new school will take place and what convenient names will be "thrown into the hat" (as supposedly one administrative influential stated in his cozy office at the bank.  For the layperson it seems too conspiratorial.  "That only took place during the day of the late Political Boss Hayden Head -- and more likely behind closed doors,"  a local Corporate Attorney punned.
But those connected with the illusive elite club (or NETWORK FOR PROFIT) manifested and formalized as a shadow arm of government such as in the CORPUS CHRISTI / Nueces County area have the occasional privilege  of getting a glimpse of the organizational structure.  The leadership in this NETWORK was pushing for one of their own -- County Judge Loyd Neal (who is in the twilight of his life and getting to retire) -- to have the new school which will be built at Cimarron and Lipes named after him.   They tried to do it by a NAMING COMMITTEE.
But the real problem was that it was HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH.  Civil Rights Leaders and activists such as Joe Ortiz (who has a long honorable tract record in the field)  were pointing out that over 53 percent of the kids at CCISD are Hispanic -- yet the leadership, especially the Superintendent of Schools has historically lacked the proper representation.  Many of the Hispanic leaders took  issue with the naming of the school after "Loyd Neal" (who has a tenebrific political  history of benefiting via his insurance business connections from his political tenures in office). His benefits: the implicit and explicit lobbying to land fo the contracts for insurance companies (which he has traditionally been affiliated with during the course of the business ventures): examples include, lobbying for the contracts of the city, of the school,  and even the insurance of the county; and that of the RTA.  Neal has used his para-mouthpieces to lobby at offical and unofficial meetings.
In response: some pressure was applied to consider Hispanic names. They saw it as an indispensable humanizing force that CCISD adopt culturally relevant heroes and exemplary figures by recognizing positive Hispanic "role models" especially during HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH.  Retired General Marc Cisneros and Jose A Gonzales were added to the roster of names under consideration.
The power structure turned, supposedly, to those figureheads (enrolled in the CORPUS CHRISTI  HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE) it channels business and/or favors to with tax-dollars and arranged for them to make the organization -- endorse the naming of the "new school" after LOYD NEAL.  It backfired and the Hispanic Chamber was further exposed for its overt and covert activities for kowtowing to special interest.
Civil Rights Activist Joe Ortiz explained: "The arrangement of the powerhouse of Corpus Christi has not changed much over the years. The power structure (mostly Anglos) after the death of the late Dr. Hector P. Garcia saw the infighting and natural divisions in the Hispanic community in trying to resolve the new course of leadership. They did not see, as before, a clear identifiable figure they could approach for addressing Hispanic issues -- that clarity had been buried with the late Dr. Garcia.  The elite decided to create an entity... that is, an entity they could co-opt. "
Ortiz added: "They penetrated and took over the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce so it could serve as a subservient-like entity to the regular chamber (i.e., the Corpus Christi Chamber of Commerce) as well as to justify their whims.  The original Mexican Chamber of Commerce (when the Bonilla brothers/attorneys and other leaders) were there -- they had healthy goals.  Later the Mexican American Chamber got absorbed and renamed the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.  The city even began to fund them.  Why? The organization was gradually being transformed and shaped into  serving as a front group for the top dog interest groups and their greedy agendas.  In a few words: to broaden their power and domain."
But one TV personality -- Attorney Joe Flores (host of SOUTH TEXAS CROSSFIRE which broadcasts via KTMV) was the decisive counter-force that halted the move to use the CORPUS CHRISTI HISPANIC CHAMBER (again, during Hispanic Heritage Month) as a legitimizing front group.  Attorney Flores blasted the resolution to support the naming of the new school after "Loyd Neal" for an entire week.  Even politico/businessman JOHN VALLS and a few others (affiliated with the at some level with the group) gripped over the expose.
JOHN VALLS is seen in various lights: some insiders see him as just someone being prepped by the NETWORK as a role model for the HISPANIC COMMUNITY; others see him as an elitist "token head" who is too removed from the daily orbit of the Hispanic masses.  His leadership in the RTA in the last year or so brought up many a stigmatization.
To return to the crux of the issue. Once the resistive HISPANIC variable of resistance started to go viral over the net and Loyd Neal's real profiteering endeavors began to surface and CCISD's School Board member Carol Scott's connection to multi-national corporate agendas (like the infamous scandal of her Coal Energy toot-horning and using CCISD to make promotional TV commercials) began to surface: the mandated "Plan B" supposedly came trickling down the chain to the various rungs of the cited NETWORK.  The generic name of "Veterans Memorial" would be more suitable to placate the growing dissatisfaction among  the genuine Hispanic activists and leaders.  But some saw it as a move to alternatively suppress the naming of the school after an Hispanic.
And Retired General Cisneros is not coy in stating what in his mind.  The general has accused the CORPUS CHRISTI CALLER-TIMES as racist in many a political endeavor; and he credits for criticizing his tenure as the former president of the Texas A&M University-Kingsville.
Joe Ortiz asked: "How can the man that was handpicked by the United States Government and the Penagon to go after the former dictator of Panama -- Noriega -- have such unpleasant experiences during his return to South Texas? -- this is one question that lingers on the mind of many.  The social-political institutions have not changed much since he left South Texas (he is originally from Premont, Texas) to serve his country.  The feelings seemed to get more personal when attempting to fight oppression at home than aboard."
But to CCISD School Board Trustee and NETWORK profiteer Carol Scott, who grew in nearby Bishop, Texas at a time where classical segregation of Hispanics and Anglos in residential pockets were evident -- where one could identify segregation and apartheid-like conditions with the precision of a razon blade, it was just a grip utter or a "chip" on a shoulder.  However, to Attorney Joe Flores it was a mater of role-models:  "Was it too much to ask for to name a school that is predominantly Hispanic, during Hispanic Heritage Month after a politiive role model who orbits and reaches out fairly to all sectors of the community like an Hispanic?".  Flores favored the new school being named after County Commissioner Jose A. Gonzales (JAG), a former Justice of the Peace and an activist in EDUCATION IS OUR FREEDOM stared by the late HECTOR P. GARCIA, founder of the American GI Forum.
To top things off, the tension mounted. A thirteen year old Hispanic CCISD student was bitten by ants during a game at his middle school and died as a result of it. The school board trustees were asked by a TV station if they wanted to come and examined the site of the incident.  Only Trustee Lucy Rubio and later John Marez inspected the it.  Some observers interpreted the "no show" of some of the other members of the school board as reflecting the social distance still in existence in their minds between the two communities -- Anglo and Hispanic/ethnic minorities.
Attorney Joe Flores insisted during an interview: "The mindset needs to change pronto.  The sensitivity level is beginning to foment unrest.  Education should be our freedom, as the late Dr. Hector (Garcia) stated so eloquently during his day.  These social walls fabricated long ago by ethnocentrism and cold convenience need to be brought down.  There is only one race -- the human race.  Yet we all share special and unique subcultures -- and thus should be respected and our way of life: observed... for not to do so, is to erase something special and also reinforcing disrespect for others that are culturally varying and unique in their ways."

JUDGE TOM GREENWELL'S SYMBOLIC SUICIDE MESSAGE

THE BELOVED DIST. JUDGE TOM GREEWELL

NUECES COUNTY, TX – District Judge Tom Greenwell was one of the most respected professionals during his career. He was the first Republican in Nueces County to win for a countywide position – which he did as a District Judge. He had a “happy go lucky” attitude.  How he could take a gun inside the chambers of his courtroom and commit self-murder on July 15th caught those that thought they knew him well off guard.

The traditional media and top law enforcement investigators went off on an unorthodox tangent.  After all, it had occurred inside the courthouse.  During the course of the investigation theories were expounded based on rumor and innuendo that transcended the orbit of his life, a life of a simple man who orbited the ritual corridors and habitual floors and conversational circles of the courthouse for thirty-some years on a daily basis. 

It cannot be denied that his stunning timing to self-destruct via suicide left a void of information (mostly of hovering clouds charged with questions). And when such a void exits, rumor-mongering arises as a social phenomenon to fill the void.  And thus it was in the nature of many intransigents to expound fictions and fantasies to fill the void of the collective imagination – to inject a sense of completion mostly to satisfy the palate of those in the audience who have socio-psychological proclivities to appeal to the exotic and/or vicarious gratification. Drop by drop the void was being jam-packed with imaginative scenarios.

 Yet Judge Greenwell’s life and contributions -- after the obsessed exploration into his personal life by some uncaring -- was treated as secondary.  Delving into his personal life became priority.  His professional normative status that Judge Greenwell projected on the stage of his career was not media viral.  The camera was pointed at the shadows in the background: in the back region of the public facade.  They tried to penetrate the veneer of his daily impressions and dig deep into his cloudy chest to try and arrive at something really meaningful or controversial or oppressive.  They discovered in the end that his life resemble that of most of us: “We choose our path and our friends and our entrusted partners and one should not complain about that in the end.” As Judge Greenwall had one cited a proverb to a friend: “One should not complain about the horse if it loses a race; afterall, one chose to bet on it.”

But despite the facts before them – i.e., the investigative journalists and researchers probing into the case. The private life of one of the most respected professionals could not be cloistered anymore – some in the public demanded it.  Many cheered on for someone to identify a target and demonized it for having allegedly rattled his mind and thus broken the fragile glass of Greenwell’s sanity.  The target became Albert Fuentes.  The 36-year old man that lived with Judge Greenwell and whom he referred to as “his son”. 

The flippant and finger-pointing inhumanity grew into a frenzy.  Albert Fuentes – this was the person that was highlighted in bold headlines; this was the “person of interest” accused both implicitly and explicitly of being a blackmailer, a con, a deviant. Words like “extortion” and “squeezing” and “pressure” were tossed around during the investigation by a few representatives investigators of public  and private entities.  Yet if one had kept up with Greenwell’s own sincere statements, one open-minded enough would have arrived at a different conclusion. He had stated in years pass in front of a camera that he had put all his love and compassion and affection in Fuentes to attempt to change the murky course of his life.  Fuentes had worked for Greenwell in the past – during his private practice days.   After that chapter, Greenwell took him in and provided shelter for him at his residence in Flour Bluff.

Still, forces of discontent pressed on.   “How could a conservative Republican such a precarious path?” –there were contradictions that needed to be spinned by politicos also.  Eventually the sacred curtain of Judge Greenwell’s private life was lifted and others joined in the mob to vent cobwebs of misguided moral judgments.  It seemed like secondary excitement (what social scientists call “vicarious gratification”) to many watching TV or reading the output of spins on the press.  Even an echo of a prying bible trumping charlatan pointed to variables too standoffish to sincerely have relevance to the clang that influenced the decisive tenebrific flash, the flash that ignited the courthouse for a few milliseconds and then brought death in a tightfisted micron.  It was as if a light bulb had been switched on and off nippily.  In the last breaths of  Judge Greenwell’s existence, in the last mental images, in the last scribbled notes (a personal will) cited his concern for Albert Fuentes, and thus so left all his possessions to him.  The non-traditional arrangement between Greenwell and Fuentes was not received well by especially by those who like to cast moral stones.

“What was so wrong with the above?” – the varying viewpoints of spectators were also critical.  Judge Greenwell had no relatives in the area; no family to call his own in the purest sense of the societal norms of the day.  One could ask now, in retrospect: “Does it logically follow that he would leave everything on his last testament/will to those closest to him?”. The answer of course is a “no-brainer”.

Even some time before Judge Greenwell has been advised by one his campaign consultants to disassociate himself from Albert Fuentes as much as possible.  Judge Greenwell’s answer (at least uttered to this heartfelt effect): “Would you abandon your son during trying times?” A “mentor” and a “father image” to Fuentes was the way he equated the association.

Judge Greenwell had grew up in the Northeastern part of the U.S.  After high school he attended Georgetown University earning a bachelor’s (with a double major: political science and journalism).  After that he attended University of Texas Law School where he graduated with honors in 1981.  That same year he started a job as a legal researcher with the 13^th Court of Appeals.  A few years later he became the head of the legal staff.  In the later 90s he went into private practice -- where he contemplated to run for office and where he met Albert Fuentes (whom he hired as a clerk).

He ran as a Republican for a District Judge position and lost the first time around by about a margin of a thousand votes.  After that Greenwell regrouped and courted various others groups with a bi-partisan leaning.  The base of this new support came from the nifty courting of the courthouse culture – the “courthouse family” as he called it.  He had worked both extensively and diligently for the 13^th Court of Appeals and had develop lasting friendship with many a staff member who worked there.  Keep in mind that back then, there was not much of a Republican Party in the expanse. The skeleton of the party was composed of a few who worked tirelessly to make inroads in this traditionally Democratic region.

He alloyed and mobilized his base – also, some doctors had organized politically to defend their interests: how many were the new factors that contributed to the edge he needed to win for office.  Additionally, his research showed that residents who had Democratic leanings under 30 were more likely to cross party lines, and he did capitalize on it.

Greenwell ran again for a district Judge post and won by defeating Martha “Marty” Huerta in 2001, a post he held until the end.   This victory raised the psychology of the regional Republican Party – activist such as Joe Jouell, Lance Bruun, Judge Robert Pate and a few others.  It seemed that overnight the GOP here had grown by leaps and bounds. Various schools of thought joined.  For the first time Republicans began to recruit and assign a demonstrative cluster of precinct chairs.

Judge Greenwell had been the “dove” of the party.  He had been like a meteorite that had lid up the sky for a while in the region.  He seemed to have used the electrifying principles of Tesla to garner bipartisan support.  As a judge he was described as balanced and fair: he could be as soft as a misty cloud in dealing with some who had committed infractions for the first time and as hard as steel with other who had done terrible things. 

He did run for a 13^th Court of Appeals post last November, but failed in his bout against Nora Longoria from the Valley.  He was devastated by the loss.  There was no tsunami of Republican votes who ran to the polls to vent their frustration with Democrats – this key variable was not there.  It was somewhat noticeable that Judge Greenwell’s voice seemed to reveal a higher level of anxiety at times.  His finances were in turmoil.  After taking his life, many suggested that hefty payouts to Albert Fuentes and another individuals might be indicators of some sort of extortion.  The matter was delved into by law enforcement – but in the end, when all was said and done, Sheriff Jim Kaelin and his key investigators concluded that the most likely factor that might have pushed him over the edge was enormous debt.

Texas Governor Rick Perry mandated the flags be flown at half-staff in government entities.  Many spoke well of him during his memorial service; others threw parties commemorating his death at local cantinas to try to capitalize on his following now adrift.  Some democrats also voiced the sentiment: “We lost ‘OUR’ Republican”. 

“Why did he take his life in his own chambers?” – this was a reoccurring question of discussion among many a group.  “Was his death symbolic?” – this is another.  Judge Tom Greenwell had spent most of his life at the courthouse and he considered many there as the closest substitution for a family.  This place was the closest thing to a sense of security.  Here he scribbled his last few thoughts on paper; here he made a summary of a summary of how his possessions and properties and other arrangements would be handled.  Here, where he stood in the summit of his career, raised a gun to his head and pulled the trigger exhaling his last breath, a prayer to Albert Fuentes and an adios to his friends.  Here the dove flew to the sky and caressed the face of God with the palm of his hand – ready to face judgment as a humbled would as if it being a mere grain of sand on the beach.

Yet questions linger: “Was there closure to his death?”; “Who will be the new ‘dove’ of the party to keep the bipartisan support?”.  These and other questions linger among activists and think-tanks and amidst the burg.  But it is clear that he left a symbolic message in this manner of suicide:  self-murder in the courthouse, the ultimate symbolic institution and orbit of societal judgement Society had question his private arrangements; he shattered the symbolic figure of the norm: he himself.