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Magnolia Park
An Oral History Project by Southeast College
Saturday, October 13, 2012
4 - 6 p.m.
hccs.edu/magnoliapark
Hidalgo Park Quiosco
This unique structure was commissioned by the Mexican-American
community of Magnolia Park.
Magnolia Park Oral History Project
T he Magnolia Park Oral History Project is a documentary-style, multi-part video project that features the people,
history and legacy of one of the oldest neighborhoods of Houston and of Texas.
Magnolia Park, located in Houston’s East End and adjacent to the early Texas town of Harrisburg (the true
birthplace of Houston), eventually became home to a wave of Mexican and Tejano settlers and their families
fleeing the Mexican Revolution of 1910.
The neighborhood’s identity and unique culture produced great leaders and activism in the Sociedad Mutualista
Benito Juárez or Benito Juárez Mutual Aid Society, and other groups focused on advocating for barrio cohesiveness
and organization. This community-building started in the early 1900s and continues today with descendants of
the original families including the Vara, Partida, Antes, González and Chairez families, to name a few.
These families contributed to Magnolia Park’s historical context and continue to contribute to this living history
of Houston and Texas.
The Aguilar Garza Family
The Aguilar Garza Family has its roots in Durango, Mexico, and the
Rio Grande Valley, but most made their way to Magnolia Park post
Mexican Revolution to find job opportunities. Felipe Aguilar arrived
first and found work digging ditches for 25 cents an hour. Of his
five children, Domitila (pictured) stood out. When she, a noted
seamstress at the Alice Dress Company, married Vital Garza, her
uncle Cresencio Aguilar, would come along to help the family. “Ms.
Tilly,” was known for her expert dressmaking and her “giving ways.”
Ms. Tilly would help establish the Chicano Family Center for Seniors
which thrives today. Of Vital and Domitila’s four children, Gloria
Alaníz, still gives back to her community as her mother taught her
and still calls Magnolia Park home.
The Alonzo Family
Frank and Ventura Alonzo met in Magnolia Park in the early 1900s
and would together produce a long line of musicians. Lending their
voices and talents to their own band “Alonzo y Sus Rancheros,”
they would popularize the Mexican Big Band or “orquesta” sound
from Magnolia Park to many points beyond in the 1930s and 1940s.
Ventura became known as the “Queen of the Accordion” and would
teach the great accordionists of their time like Flaco Jiménez and
Estéban “Steve” Jordan.
The Chairez Family
Feliciano and Petra Chairez would flee Pancho Villa’s revolution and
arrive in Magnolia Park in the early 1920s. They escaped because the
“Federales” who stopped them saw the family’s horse blanket had
the “right colors” according to relative María de Jesus. By covered
wagon, they made it to San Antonio and then to Magnolia Park
where history would be made. Son Francisco Chairez (pictured top
2nd from left) would become the first Latino to graduate, through
scholarships, from Rice Institute (now Rice University) and become
a chemical engineer. He would be the role model for the rest of the
family for the rest of their lives.
The Ante Family
Tomás Ante, born in México in 1890, first came to Texas in 1911
where he met his lovely bride Julia Vásquez before establishing
and raising 11 children together in what was then called Harrisburg.
Tomás is fondly remembered by his sons Eddie and Robert as
“always helping people” and having “a lot of comadres and
compadres.”
The De La Portilla-Martínez Family
Hailing mostly from Spain and México, the De La Portilla-Martínez
family was forced into Texas by the Mexican Revolution. At the turn
of the 19th century, before the family would make its mark on their
new home of Magnolia Park, ancestor Felipe Roque de la Portilla, a
captain of the Spanish Army made his mark in central Texas where
he is named in a commemorative monument for the establishment
of San Marcos. His modern descendants include the Frank de la
Portilla, Sr. (pictured above) Family. Frank de la Portilla, Jr. (middle)
remembers a great life in his beloved Magnolia Park tempered by
discrimination. An athletic standout, Frank Jr. in the 1950s made
All-City in Baseball and All-State in Basketball at Milby High School,
where he says he learned harsh lessons of discrimination from his
school coaches.
The Córdova Family
Born in Piedras Negras, Mexico in 1915, Gilberto Córdova (pictured)
came to Texas at the age of seven looking for work. In 1922, after
marrying his wife Guadalupe of Sugar Land, he convinced his
beloved sister to join him and his family to move to Magnolia Park
where he would hold jobs at the City of Houston and Gulfgate Mall
most of his life. Sons, Carlos, “Charlie,” Frankie and Gibby would all
become very athletic as young boys. They all became boxers with
Charlie leading the way as the 1962 Texas Golden Gloves Welter
Weight Champion. His title and reputation as a boxer would very
proudly transcend beyond the borders of Magnolia Park for years.
The Domínguez Family
Born in 1908 in Galeana, México, Juan Domínguez, made his way
to Houston’s Magnolia Park to find new opportunity when his father
would not allow him to go to college. Almost a century later, he
would become a noted community leader that set the tone for his
own sons, including one John Domínguez, Jr. and his wife Frances
and their children.
The Espinosa Family
Mariano and Tomasita Espinosa arrived in Magnolia Park in 1902.
Mariano would find work on the Southern Pacific Railroads while
Tomasita, with many mouths to feed, would survive their meager
existence living in box cars along the railroads of Magnolia Park.
Her other refuge was in the newly established Immaculate Heart of
Mary Church. Religion and the church became a way of life. For son
Rudy, (top – 2nd from left), a devout altar boy, service in WWII would
set his path to become a Master Tailor. He returned from the Great
War and worked at the top department stores in Houston before
establishing his Rudy the Tailor Shop in Magnolia Park, where he and
his family still live today.
The Flóres Family
Antonio Flóres was “one of the few” Mexicans in Magnolia Park
in 1906. He brought from his hometown of Monterrey, México, a
sense of wanting to accomplish something. Soon after his arrival, he
would help establish the civic group “Los Hacheros” or Woodmen
of the World. Campo Navidad would be a helping hand to other
Mexicans arriving during and after the Mexican Revolution.
The Gaitán Family
Pablo and Victoria Gaitán (pictured) made their way to Magnolia
Park from San Luís Potosí, Mexico in 1909, right before the outbreak
of the Mexican Revolution. Starting a new life in Texas meant a lot
of struggle as seasonal laborers in “las piscas” all over Texas and
Illinois. One son, Juan, was born in Archer, Texas because of that
lifestyle. His son, Manuel “Munger” was born in Magnolia Park
and would attend Magnolia Park schools, and become a popular
athlete and eventually, a Golden Glove Champion before becoming
a machinist until his retirement from the Budweiser Plant. The entire
surviving family still lives in the Magnolia Park area.
The González Family
One of Magnolia Parks’ First Families of restaurateurs, the José
González family, would establish itself way before the success of
El Jardín Restaurant. José was a very gifted tile mason before his
new career. Considered a very distinguished man, José would bring
people together with his style, talents and sense of community.
Daughter, Dr. Laura Murillo, remembers her father as a man “who
saw no barriers, no obstacles.”
The Anastacio Garza-Martínez Family
Anastacio and Petra Garza rolled into Texas from Mier, Tamaulipas, Mexico by covered wagon during the Frontier days of the 1890s, pre-Mexican Revolution. The family “cuentos” are that Petra was as tough if not tougher than the men around her as she packed a gun while traveling with small children across Texas where she and Anastacio
made a home in Lockhart. They made their way to Magnolia Park, arriving in the late 1920 where Anastacio worked on the waterfront. Daughter, Tomasa married into the Luis and Maximiliana Martínez family in 1930. Of their eight children, surviving sons and daughters all became professionals. Son, Ramiro became a cryptologist and communications controller with RCA, NASA subcontractor and subsequently became a polygraph examiner with the City of Houston until retirement. Daughter, Dr. Irene Porcarello would rise to the top of the Education field as President of Houston Community College.
The José “Joe” Martínez Family
Félix Martínez and wife Zapopán, (pictured center) crossed the
Mexico-Texas border at the turn of the last century and settled in
Lockhart, Texas, before making their way to Magnolia Park circa.
1925. Félix found work at the docks at the Houston Compress where
he worked and raised his family. The Martínez Family was a big,
close-knit family with eight daughters and one son, José “Joe,” who
grew up to become a hometown sports hero at Edison Jr. High and
Milby High School. He made All-City in Basketball. He also played
ball at the Allen Military Academy in Bryan-College Station before
moving to the University of Houston where he made history in 1950
as one of the first Latino students to graduate. Joe married Lydia
Ayala, also a Magnolia Park resident, and together had three sons,
all college-educated professionals. Martinez’s amazing athleticism
is still remembered fondly in Magnolia Park.
The Pancho Gabino Hernandez Family
Fleeing the Mexican Revolution,
would be a smart move for Francisco
“Pancho” Gabino Hernández who
arrived in Magnolia at the turn of the
20th century. He started as a door-to-
door salesman but soon established
the Alamo Furniture Co. and earned
the nickname “Pancho del Alamo.”
By the mid 1900s, his family would
be working for him. Relying on the
“Golden Rule,” Pancho del Alamo
would become very prosperous and a
leader of the Latino Business community. He was the first to have a
fleet of delivery trucks. Says granddaughter, Tina Gabino Rodríguez,
“We struggled during the Great Depression, but survived.” She
added, “I thank him for instilling in us to never be afraid of hard
work.”
The Munguía-Cantú-Rivera families were inter-related and some of
the first Latino entrepreneurs in Houston and Magnolia Park. All
told, they established the iconic businesses including the Alamo
Furniture Company; the Munguía Furniture Company; the Azteca
Theater and La Moderna Grocery Store. Eli Brett Rivera (in wedding
picture) would become one of the Houston Police Department’s
first Latino officers.
The Munguía-Cantú-Rivera Families The Navarro Family
Gabriel C. Navarro arrived in Magnolia Park from Mexico in 1919,
following the tumultuous Mexican Revolution. He and his wife,
Maria Gutierrez, established themselves here and raised eight
children. Raúl Navarro, who spent a lifelong career in the printing
business in the East End, he was an ordained Deacon in the Catholic
Church and was very involved in the Texas Silver Hair Legislature.
The Partida Family
Seeing FDR in Magnolia Park in 1936 and his grandfather, Elias
Ramírez, at work in the community, got Frank Partida started in
politics at a very early age. The Partida family has, for generations,
been at the forefront of many of Magnolia Park’s greatest moments
in history.
The Pérez-Rodríguez Family
Cecilio Pérez, (pictured with grandson, Richard Olivarez and his
daughter Vera) came to Magnolia Park in early 1900s from Real
de Catorce, Mexico and established himself as a successful
businessman in the early days. He had five sons and one daughter,
Aurora, who married Rufus “Cuco” Rodríguez and had two sons,
Roy and Tony, and a daughter named Ruth. One son, Roy Pérez
Rodríguez, would see the world as a road driver and served in the
Air Force, rising to the rank of E-3. Most of the Pérez men and some
women would serve in every arm of the United States Military. One
family member made a career at Shell Oil, one worked for a drum
making company, another worked all his life in the auto industry
in Detroit, Michigan. Cousin Gilbert Coronado is a supervisor for
Missouri Pacific Railroad to this day. Cousin Esequiel Rodríguez,
(deceased), was one of the first Tejano music aficionados. The
modern Pérez Rodríguez descendants are educated professionals.
Most of the Pérez-Rodríguez family still resides in Magnolia Park
today.
The Postel Family
The Postel Family has its origins in Mexico from where Martín and
Maria Postel left in 1906 to come to Texas. Arturo García Postel,
(pictured bottom middle) was born in Victoria, Texas, in 1906 before
moving to Magnolia Park to find job opportunities. Arturo’s son
Adolph, Sr. (top far right) remembers a simple life , Model T’s and
Model A’s in the 1930s in Magnolia Park where he would attend
DeZavala Elementary and Edison Jr. High, before getting a job at
the shipyards at the Port of Houston and then the railroads near the
docks. He would retire from that job 38 years later.
The Ramírez Family
A third generation “Tejano,” Elias Ramírez, made his mark in
Magnolia Park in the early 1900s. He was a respected civic leader
and became the first president of the Sociedad Mutalista Benito
Juárez. From the Ramírez family would come the first Hispanic
Senator from Harris County; an HISD Trustee; an Army Brigadier
General and Commandant of Texas A&M Corps. of Cadets; and a
POW Military hero.
The Reyna Family
Mary Reyna, (pictured top-middle), was the daughter of María and
Gerónimo Torres, who left Piedras Negras, Mexico to escape the
Revolution around 1911. Early vaudevillians or entertainers, they
would make their way to San Antonio where daughter Mary met
her future husband, Joe Reyna, (pictured top row, second from left)
before their big move to Magnolia Park. Joe, a mechanic, eventually
set up Reyna’s Garage on Harrisburg. Mary, friend to high profile
politicians, Mexican Presidents, and comedian, Cantínflas, would
become one of Magnolia Park’s first Latina florists in the industry.
Her entrepreneurial spirit made Reyna’s Flower Shop one of the
most successful businesses around. Her beautiful daughter, Gloria,
was named Fiestas Patrias Queen in 1946. Her sisters, Chris and
Soila Reyna Lawrence, were also beauty queens. The community-
minded Reyna Family would make many strides on behalf of their
beloved community of Magnolia Park.
The Romo Family
The Romo Family came to Magnolia Park after the Mexican
Revolution in 1919. Patriarch Julian Romo established himself as
a successful businessman, one of the first in Magnolia Park, with
the Romo Grocery Store on 76th Street. He would become a big
community leader and everybody’s “Padrino” and helped those
less fortunate during tough times, especially during the Great
Depression. He would support local organizations and Mexican
baseball teams all of his life. His descendants, now into the
fourth generation, would become educated and professional and
concerned about the community as well. His family says his legacy
is that of a “compassionate human being.”
The Seguín Family
Descendants of Juan Seguín, one of the defenders of the Alamo,
and “Alcalde” of San Antonio, settled in Magnolia Park circa 1920s.
Pablo Ramírez and María Seguín (pictured, and Juan Seguín’s great
granddaughter) had no children together but raised her children Lillie
Seguín and Roy Luna (great great grandchildren of Juan Seguín)
in Magnolia Park. Gregorio García of Matamoros, Tamaulipas,
Mexico married Guadalupe Seguín. Their daughter, Julia Seguín,
(born in 1925 in Magnolia Park and Juan Seguín’s great-great-great
granddaughter) married Cesario Aguilar. She went on to become
the first Hispanic PTA President of Franklin Elementary and was part
of the “Sunshine Girls” with her sister, Gertrudis Dehoyas “Aunt
Gerty ,” in the 1960s. All the Seguín descendants in Magnolia Park
were heavily involved in community service, education and politics.
Fourth generation daughter, Else Flóres McKenzie would become
the family’s first college graduate (U of H, summa cum laude) and
first Latina to attain Grade 13 with the Internal Revenue Service.
The Gilberto Sánchez Family
Gilberto Sánchez (pictured as a boy) was born in 1905 in San
Antonio, Texas, and as a young man moved his family to and settled
in Magnolia Park in 1926. He was a self-educated salesman who
rose to be District Manager of the Woodman of the World (Los
Hacheros) Life Insurance organization. He met and married Herlinda
Quiñones in Maxwell, Texas, and brought her to Magnolia Park with
one daughter Oralia “Lollie” Cain. Other children born in Magnolia
Park included Melba, one of the first Latina stewardesses with Pan
American Airlines. Daughter Ninfa Rosson was a social worker with
MD Anderson Cancer Center where she spent her whole career.
Gilberto Sánchez died at 93 years old in Magnolia Park in a home he
designed and built himself and that still stands today on Avenue L.
The legacy of Gilberto Sánchez is his love of God, family, community
and his job.
The Torres Delgado Family
Mariano Torres escaped the Mexican Revolution on his way to San
Antonio, Texas, and then became a laborer in the cotton fields of
Lockhart before moving his family to Magnolia Park in the early
1920’s. Son Juan Torres was born there in 1914 and married Carmen
. His brother Victoriano (pictured, circa 1923), also a Tejano, would
marry Nestora Rodríguez from San Pedro, Coahuíla, Mexico. Both
would become entrepreneurs and raised their families in Magnolia
Park and Newgulf, an industrial town. Juan and Carmen opened a
neighborhood tortilla factory known as La Poblana, which would
stand for nearly 60 years in the heart of Magnolia Park on 77th and
Canal. It provided many jobs for family members through the years
until its closure in 2006.
The Treviño-Postel Family
Isabel Gómez Postel, pictured as a school teacher in 1906, would
marry Alejandro Postel in Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico and
travel to Texas in 1913, shortly after the Mexican Revolution broke
out. They moved to Magnolia Park to find work. Daughter, Adelina
Postel Treviño, would make her life here with her children, Hilda
Rose, Benita, Gilbert, and Olivia and when her husband, Hector,
died at the age of 49, she became a young widow and had to find
work during the Great Depression. Adelina would make a career
out of social work, first with the United Way. The Postel men would
become noted tailors. All the Postel-Treviño family would rise to be
well-respected in their community of Magnolia Park where many
family members still reside to this day.
The Rudy Vara Family
Dedicated service to community was Rudy Vara Sr.’s trademark
from the time he arrived in Magnolia Park from San Antonio. After
meeting his future wife, Alice Rivera, at the famous Quiosco in
1940, the pair would together become noted leaders in their barrio.
Rudy was one the last of the true “vaqueros” forging trails on his
mount to the Houston Livestock Show on behalf of all Latinos and
was very active with the Riata Committee. He was also a big force
at the American Legion Hall, in LULAC, and many other service
organizations benefitting Magnolia Park families. All of their six
surviving children, in some form or fashion, became community
leaders in their own right. One son, Judge Richard Vara, holds the
title as the longest serving Justice of the Peace in Harris County.
The Vela-Garza-García Family
Petra and Anastacio Garza (pictured center) left Mexico for Lockhart,
Texas, in the early 1900s and worked as sharecroppers before
settling in Magnolia Park where Petra would be one of the first
Latinas to purchase property on Avenue F. Son Alvino Vela Garza
was born in Lockhart and married Esther Flóres also born and raised
in Lockhart. Alvino would become a certified government welder
and worked for the Platzer Shipyard until his retirement. Gloria
Garza, their only child, became the first Latina twirler at Milby High
School where she met the love of her life, Raymond Vela Romo
García, whose parents Rodrigo and Lily, moved to Magnolia from
Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. Raymond would also make history as
the first Latino Motorcycle Division police officer for the Houston
Police Department.
The Villagomez Family
Ramón Villagómez traveled with his bride-to-be, Delfina, from
Morelia, México to escape the Mexican Revolution. Along the way,
a precious family heirloom would become the centerpiece of their
enduring love. In the early days, there was great struggle to survive.
From living out of box cars along the railroads of Magnolia Park
to their present homestead, there would be much progress: son
Augustín would become a mail operator; son Aurelio would become
“El Zapatero de Magnolia” a shoe shop owner; the family would
help establish Immaculate Heart of Mary Church; and produce
countless educators and business owners. Yet, for all the early
struggle, there would be many victories for the proud Villagómez
Family, then and now.
The Ybarra Family
Abraham and Rumalda Ybarra, from Castaños, Coahuíla, Mexico,
were the original family members who arrived in Magnolia Park in
1915. Ranchers, (pictured with six of 14 children), they had Isidro,
the first born in the USA, and raised cattle and a lot of farm animals
first in Bryan, Texas, and then in Magnolia Park. Isidro would meet
his wife, Josefina, at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, the
center of their family life. They remember a quieter time in this
region of Magnolia Park in the 20s and 30s; they remember the
horse and buggy days. Isidro would make his living from the
Houston Compress near the docks of the Port of Houston. It was in
Magnolia Park that he and Josefina raised their four boys: Isidro, Jr.;
Roy; Ricardo and David.
Board of Trustees
Mary Ann Perez, Chair, District III
Bruce Austin, Vice Chair, District II
Neeta Sane, Secretary, District VII
Yolanda Navarro Flores, District I
Carroll G. Robinson, District IV
Richard Schechter, District V
Sandie Mullins, District VI
Eva L. Loredo, District VIII
Christopher W. Oliver, District IX
Chancellor
Mary S. Spangler, Ed.D.
Southeast College President
Irene Porcarello, Ed.D.