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.