Frumencio Reyes, Jr.
Frumencio was born in an adobe house in
San Antonio
de las
Alasanas,
Mexico. He was brought to the
United States
when he was 2 years old. He attended schools in
Texas, was a migrant worker always returning
from the migrant trail after school was in session. His love for school
gave him the fortitude to excel never losing sight of the goal that only
through education would he get out of the migrant status. He met his
wife, Janie Palomo, at
Edinburg
High School; dropped out
of high school to marry at the ripe age of 18years old. He pursued his
high school diploma via correspondence, moved to
Chicago
Illinois
where he lived for 12 years. He was a partner in a travel agency.
Frumencio attended college in
Chicago’s public education system (one year at De
Paul University) at night while working during the day.
Frumencio returned to
Houston
to pursue his dreams of becoming a lawyer. He attended TSU, founded the
Chicano Law Students Association at TSU, was active in the Student Bar
Association and many other law school organizations. He began his
community involvement in
Texas by lecturing senior
citizens on consumer and welfare rights while attending law school full
time. Frumencio is a proud founding member of the Mexican American Bar
Association, an organization that has been instrumental in furthering
appointments and elections of Hispanic Judges. Frumencio has a passion
for politics; he founded the Mexican American and later the State and
Harris County Tejano Democrats, and continues to be very active in
National, State and local Democratic politics.
Frumencio was instrumental in the creation of the single member
districts; he was lead council in the law suit that ultimately created
single member districts for the City of
Houston. He also litigated for single member
districts in the
School District
of
Pasadena
and the
Houston
Independent
School District.
Frumencio has been a great advocate of women’s rights, always making sure
that women are treated fairly. He received the “Hispanic Women in
Leadership” award in recognition of his advocacy for women rights, the
first award ever given to a male. Frumencio has been a recipient of
other numerous awards that have recognized him for the contribution he
has made in protecting human rights and standing up for the less
fortunate.
Frumencio is the proud father of two daughters, Imelda, an attorney who
sits as Municipal Court Judge and Donna a physician, an ER doctor at
Texas Children’s hospital. He is the proud grandfather of three
granddaughters, Maria, and twins, Bianca and Francesca and three
grandsons, Carlos, Tomas and Francisco.
