Hector Garcia Middle School

Hector P. Garcia was born January 17, 1914 in Mexico. Three years later, the family fled the country during the Mexican Revolution, settling in the Rio Grande border town of Mercedes.

José, Garcia’s father, taught his children math, literature and history, preparing them to become medical doctors, and six of the seven did. Throughout the years, the family endured the hardships of discrimination–segregated schools, poverty and limited opportunities. The family’s home was raided in 1922 and their dry goods store burned in 1924. Eventually, the Garcia children had to pick cotton to help support the family.

In spite of the challenges, Garcia graduated from Edinburgh Junior College before going on to The University of Texas at Austin, where he received a diploma in 1936. Each year, only one Mexican-American was accepted into UT’s medical program–a spot that Garcia earned, completing his second degree in 1940. At that time, no Texas hospital would accept a Hispanic doctor, so Garcia conducted his medical residency in Nebraska.

Upon his return to Texas, Garcia set up his first practice in Corpus Christi. Shortly after, in 1942, he joined the Army and served in President Roosevelt’s Civilian Military Training Corp in Northern Africa and Italy. Advancing to the rank of major, he drew the attention of the FBI when it was reported that a Mexican was seen wearing the uniform of an American officer.

Presented with a Bronze Star and six Battle Stars for his service during the war, Dr. Garcia settled back in Corpus Christi with his wife and child. In 1948, Garcia formed the American GI Forum to help Mexican-American veterans who were being denied Veterans Administration medical and financial benefits. One year later, U.S. Senator Lyndon B. Johnson helped Garcia ensure a Mexican-American World War II hero received services at a “white only” funeral home and burial in Arlington National Cemetery. Seen as barrier breaking, the event placed Dr. Garcia and the GI Forum on the national map.

For the next 40 years, Garcia practiced medicine 15-20 hours a day, and his work positively affected the lives of Mexican-Americans in this country. He fought for school desegregation and equal workplace opportunity through organizations like the League of United Latin American Citizens. A highly successful political activist, he was recognized by presidents Kennedy, Johnson and Reagan, and by Pope John Paul II.

During his civil rights career, Garcia received many honors including the Presidential Medal of Freedom, awarded in 1984 by President Ronald Reagan–the highest civilian award he could give.

After a lifetime of helping people overcome adversity and inspiring them to learn, in July of 1996, Dr. Hector P. Garcia died at age 82 in Corpus Christi, the city he called home. Garcia once said, “education is our freedom, and an education should be everybody’s business.”