González, Henry B. (1916–2000)

Congressman Henry Barbosa González was a larger-than-life personality and Democratic Representative from the state of Texas who became the unofficial, and controversial, spokesperson for Mexican Americans in Texas during a pivotal period for that population in American history. Gonzalez's tenure as a public servant was marked by a passionate, and sometimes tumultuous, advocacy for the rights of minorities and the downtrodden, as described in this entry.

Born in San Antonio, Texas, to recent Mexican immigrants on May 3,1916, Henry González attended public schools in his hometown, eventually attending both the University of Texas at Austin and San Antonio College during his undergraduate years. He later earned a law degree at St. Mary's University School of Law. Following graduation, González taught English to immigrant workers, developed a Spanish-English translation service with his father, served as a public relations officer for an insurance company, and worked as a civilian cable and radio censor for military intelligence during World War II. From 1946 to 1950, González worked as a probation officer, rising to chief officer of the Bexar County Juvenile Court by the end of his tenure.

In 1950, González entered the political arena and ran for a seat in the Texas House of Representatives. He narrowly lost the election, but won a seat on the San Antonio City Council 3 years later. During his time on the council, González proposed and passed an ordinance ending segregation in the city's public facilities. In 1956, he left for a seat in the Texas state senate, the first Mexican American elected to that body since the mid-1800s. In the senate, González gained notoriety as an outspoken opponent of racist legislation and an ardent supporter of minority rights and the poor. González also began to solidify his reputation as a sometimes irascible and obstinate legislator, and was among the most popular political figures in Texas. Perhaps a sign of things to come, in 1957 González, along with Senator Abraham Kazen, attracted national attention by leading the longest filibuster in Texas senate history, 35 hours, to defeat several racist segregation bills aimed at circumventing Brown v. Board of Education.

González continued his political journey in 1961, winning a special election to fill the U.S. House of Representatives vacancy caused by the resignation of Paul J. Kilday (D-Tex.), thereby becoming the first Mexican American from Texas ever to be elected to a national office. González overwhelmingly won all subsequent elections to the House, sometimes receiving as much as 90% of the votes cast or running unopposed.

Like his tenure in the Texas legislature, Gonzalez's time in Washington was noted for his efforts on behalf of the rights of the disadvantaged. As a member of several committees and subcommittees—including the Subcommittee on Housing and Community Development, the Subcommittee on International Development Institutions and Finance, and the House Small Business Committee, González sponsored and supported numerous bills targeting equal economic opportunities, improved education and public housing programs, higher minimum wages, protection of benefits for workers, and [Page 328]expanded industry for San Antonio. He was also a member, and after 1988 chairman, of the House Banking, Finance, and Urban Affairs Committee, a position he used to impose tighter controls over the savings and loan industry, increase accessibility to credit to small businesses, strengthen anti-money-laundering laws, and make the Federal Reserve more publicly accountable.

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