Frank Tejeda

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).

Frank Mariano Tejeda
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Texas's 28th district
In office
January 3, 1993 – January 30, 1997
Preceded byDistrict created following 1990 census
Succeeded byCiro D. Rodriguez
Member of the Texas State Senate from District 19
In office
January 13, 1987 – January 3, 1993
Preceded byGlenn Kothmann
Succeeded byGregory Luna
Member of the Texas House of Representatives
In office
January 11, 1977 – January 13, 1987
Preceded byTony Dramberger
Succeeded byCiro Rodriguez
Constituency118th district (1983-87)
District 57-B (1977-83)
Personal details
Born(1945-10-02)October 2, 1945
San Antonio, Texas
DiedJanuary 30, 1997(1997-01-30) (aged 51)
Resting placeFort Sam Houston National Cemetery San Antonio, Texas
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)Cecilia Tejeda
Children3 (2 daughters, 1 son)
Alma materSt. Mary's University
ProfessionLawyer; politician
Military service
Branch/serviceUnited States Marine Corps
Years of service1963-1967
RankMajor
Battles/warsVietnam War

Biography

Frank M. Tejeda was born in San Antonio, Texas. 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 master's degrees — in 1980, he received an M.A. from Harvard University, and in 1989, an LL.M. from Yale 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 military honors at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio.

Namesakes
  • On September 1, 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]
  • A charter high school with his name, Frank Tejeda Academy, in the Harlandale Independent School District in San Antonio, the same district in which he lived and from which he graduated.
  • The Frank M. Tejeda Post Office Building in San Antonio, dedicated in 1997.[4]
  • The VA outpatient clinic in San Antonio was posthumously named in his honor.
  • Frank Tejeda Estates, a housing development at Lackland Air Force Base.
  • Frank Tejeda Middle School in the North East Independent School District in San Antonio was posthumously named in his honor.
  • Division Park in the City of San Antonio was renamed Frank Tejeda Park in 1996.[5]
  • The Texas State Veterans Home in Floresville, Texas is named in memory of Rep. Tejeda.
  • After his death, the Marine Corps Reserve Association created the Major Frank M. Tejeda Leadership Award to recognize leaders committed to the Marine Corps.[2]
gollark: Basically, with the (1/6) * (5/6)^7, you are calculating the probability of one particular outcome where you get one six and 7 notsixes.
gollark: Sum what?
gollark: https://www4d.wolframalpha.com/Calculate/MSP/MSP2455164a65cf7ge765eb00001ageb44fb884861c?MSPStoreType=image/gif&s=16
gollark: It says it's 78125/209952.
gollark: Imagine NOT making WolframAlpha solve all maths problems for you.

See also

Notes
  1. "Frank M. Tejeda". Frank M. Tejeda VA Outpatient Clinic, United States Department of Veterans Affairs. Archived from the original on 2007-03-09. Retrieved 2007-04-17.
  2. "Jones Honored by the Marine Corps Reserve Association". March 17, 2005. Archived from the original on October 8, 2007. Retrieved 2007-04-17.
  3. "Texas Memorial Highway System". Texas Department of Transportation. Retrieved 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.
  4. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-01-28. Retrieved 2014-01-28.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. http://www.sanantonio.gov/parksandrec/directory_tejeda.aspx

References
  • "Frank M. Tejeda". Hispanic Americans in Congress from 1822 to 1995. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2007-04-17.
Texas House of Representatives
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
Texas Senate
Preceded by
Glenn Kothmann		 Texas State Senator
from District 19 (San Antonio)
1987–1993		 Succeeded by
Gregory Luna
U.S. House of Representatives
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
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.