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In Memory of Manuel Guajardo, Jr.
 With a heavy heart, we report the passing of long-time Board of Trustee Manuel Guajardo, Jr. He was in his 25th year of service to the staff and students of Texas City ISD.
Manuel Guajardo, Jr. has a long history of active civic involvement in the Texas City Independent School District, the City of Texas City, and Galveston County.
He served on the Texas City ISD School Board of Trustees for 25 years, serving as Vice President and President multiple times. He also represented the Region 4 education service area on the Texas Association of School Boards for 14 years.
Manuel was involved in the community of Texas City for more than 53 years and was married to Maria Garza Guajardo for 61 years. He was a proud father, grandfather and great-grandfather.
He became involved with Hispanic issues in 1962 when he became a member of the Political Association of Spanish Organizations (PASO) in Palacios, Texas. He remained a member of PASO until 1975.
In 1965, Manuel and Mary became members of LULAC Council #255 (Texas City). They were both honored last summer from the LULAC National President Margaret Moran for dedicating more than 50 years of service to LULAC. He held all elected positions within the Texas City chapter. During his service he was instrumental in bettering educational, housing, and employment opportunities for countless underprivileged people in the community.
He was responsible for helping to organize the first Texas City "Cinco de Mayo" celebration, a celebration that continues to this very day. In 1975, the Mayor of the City of Texas City appointed him to the Board of Directors of the Housing Authority. He served on the Board through 1992 and was president of the Board for several years.
In 1976, Manuel was the driving force that caused the implementation of bilingual education in the Texas City school system. In 1977, he successfully fought for inclusion of Hispanic and African American teachers in Texas City ISD. That same year, he became the first Hispanic to run for public office. Even though he was not elected at that time, his candidacy produced a record number of votes in the election. Also in 1977, he was the driving force behind getting the first LULAC Recreational Park in the nation established in Texas City. The park was built on three acres of land that were donated by LULAC Council #255.
Additionally, Manuel and Mary became the first husband and wife team to win the Man and Woman of the Year Awards from LULAC District 8 in 1977. During the same year, he served on the College of the Mainland Advisory Board. As part of that board, he was instrumental in curbing problems between students of different cultures (Hispanics, African Americans, and Whites).
In 1980, Manuel was involved with SER (Jobs for Progress) and eventually served on that Board. The program used federal funds to train or re-train unemployed residents of our community and educated young adults with vocational or college training to make productive citizens of young adults.
In 1987, while serving as President of the Texas City Housing Authority, he made a proposal to the Texas City Commission for a drug prevention program for the housing authority. In 1991, his proposal was approved and we received $100,000 in federal funds.
Through the years, Manuel was a member of the Noon Optimist Club of Texas City, the Noon Lions Club of Texas City, and the Rotary Club of Texas City. He was the recipient of a Paul Harris Fellow through Rotary International. Additionally, he was an active member of the First Presbyterian Church of Texas City where he served as an elder and the Sunday School Superintendent. He also served his church on the Building Committee and the Personnel Committee.
Manuel's community involvement has been extensive and is exemplified by the fact that his employer awarded him the Goodyear Spirit Award for his years of service and his civic accomplishments. In July, 2002, he was recognized by Congressman Nick Lampson for the many years of service to his community with a Congressional Recognition Award as the recipient of the Henry B. Gonzales Latino Leadership Award.
The Texas City ISD community was positively impacted due to the dedication and leadership of Manuel Guajardo, Jr. His impact and devotion will never be forgotten.
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