Frank Tejeda
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| Frank Mariano Tejeda | |
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| In office January 3, 1993 - January 30, 1997 |
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| Preceded by | District created following 1990 census |
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| Succeeded by | Ciro D. Rodriguez |
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| Born | October 2, 1945 San Antonio, Texas |
| Died | January 30, 1997 (aged 51) |
| Political party | Democratic |
Frank Mariano Tejeda (October 2, 1945–January 30, 1997) was a decorated United States Marine and an American Democratic politician from Texas. He served in the Texas House of Representatives (1976–1987), the Texas Senate (1987–1993), and in the United States House of Representatives (1993–1997).
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[edit] Biography
Frank M. Tejeda was born in San Antonio, Texas on October 2, 1945. He attended St. Leo's Catholic School and graduated from Harlandale High School.
He served in the United States Marine Corps and was wounded in action during the Vietnam War (1963–1967). He was decorated for valor with the Silver Star, the Bronze Star, and the Purple Heart.[1] Tejeda reached the rank of Major in the Marine Corps Reserves.[2]
After his Marine Corps service, he earned his bachelor's degree in 1970 from St. Mary's University in San Antonio, and his J.D. in 1974 from University of California, Berkeley Law School.
Tejeda began his political career in the Texas Legislature. He served in the Texas House from 1976 to 1987, and then in the Texas Senate from 1987 to 1993. While serving in the legislature, he earned two Masters degrees — in 1980, he received an M.A. from the John F. Kennedy School of Government (Harvard University), and in 1989, an LL.M. from Yale University's Law School.
Tejeda was elected with 87% of the votes to the U.S. Congress in 1992, representing the 28th Congressional District of Texas. Notably, serving on the Armed Services Committee and the Veterans' Affairs Committee, his work in the Congress focused on veterans' issues.
On January 30, 1997, shortly after the beginning of his third term, Congressman Tejeda died after a year-long battle with brain cancer. He was buried with full miliary honors at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio.
[edit] Namesakes
The VA outpatient clinic in San Antonio was posthumously named in his honor.
After Tejeda's death, the Marine Corps Reserve Association created the Major Frank M. Tejeda Leadership Award to recognize leaders committed to the Marine Corps.[2]
NEISD Middle School in San Antonio was posthumously named in his honor.
On 1 September 1997, U.S. Highway 281 from Interstate 410 to the Atascosa/Bexar county line was named "Congressman Frank M. Tejeda Memorial Highway" by the Texas Legislature[3]
[edit] See also
[edit] Notes
- ^ Frank M. Tejeda. Frank M. Tejeda VA Outpatient Clinic, United States Department of Veterans Affairs. Retrieved on 2007-04-17.
- ^ a b Jones Honored by the Marine Corps Reserve Association (March 17, 2005). Retrieved on 2007-04-17.
- ^ Texas Memorial Highway System. Texas Department of Transportation. Retrieved on 2007-11-16. The reference erroneously lists the northern bound of the memorial highway as Loop 410 which has not existed in Bexar County since 1969, or anywhere else in the state since 1991.
[edit] References
- Frank Tejeda at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress Retrieved on 2008-02-02
- TEJEDA, Frank Mariano, (1945–1997) — Biographical Information. Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved on 2007-04-17.
- Frank M. Tejeda. Hispanic Americans in Congress from 1822 to 1995. Library of Congress. Retrieved on 2007-04-17.
- Frank M. Tejeda Biography. The Frank M. Tejeda Center for Excellence in Environmental Operations. Retrieved on 2007-04-17.
- John P. Schmal. "Sixty-Fifth Session (1977–1978)" in The Tejano Struggle for Representation. The Hispanic Experience: Hispanics in Government. Retrieved on 2007-04-17.
[edit] External links
- Votes by Frank Tejeda. The U.S. Congress Votes Database. The Washington Post. Retrieved on 2007-04-17.
| Preceded by A. L. “Tony” Dramberger |
Member of the Texas House of Representatives from District 57-B (San Antonio) 1977–1983 |
Succeeded by Inactive district |
| Preceded by Inactive district |
Member of the Texas House of Representatives from District 118 (San Antonio) 1983–1987 |
Succeeded by Ciro D. Rodriguez |
| Preceded by Glenn Kothmann |
Texas State Senator from District 19 (San Antonio) 1987–1993 |
Succeeded by Gregory Luna |
| Preceded by District created following 1990 census |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Texas's 28th congressional district 1993–1997 |
Succeeded by Ciro D. Rodriguez |
