Famous People of the Valley and South Texas

Over the years, South Texas has produced a variety of talented people that have made an impact in their fields. Whether they are writers, athletes, actors, or educators, all these individuals are representative of the spirit of Texas.

Gloria Anzaldua, writer
Leo Araguz: NFL sports
Ramon Ayala: musician/composer
Aida Barrera: creator of "carascolendas," syndicated TV children program
Freddy Gonzalez: Vietnam hero
Federico Peña: U.S. Dept. of Transportation
Jovita Idar: founder Primer Congreso Femenil
Harlon Block: Iwo Jima Memorial hero
Kika De La Garza: U.S. House of Representatives
Ramon Ayala
Gonzalez

Gen. Ignacio Zaragoza: Hero of Batalla de Puebla, 5 de Mayo
Freddy Fender: singer/actor
Pat Hingle: actor
Amanda McBroom: singer/composer/actor
Selena: singer
Hector Garcia: founder American GI Forum
Juan Nepomuceno (Cheno) Cortina:
Lydia Mendoza: singer/composer, "la golondrina del valle
Lloyd Bentsen: U.S. Secretary of the Treasury
Narciso Martinez: "Father" of Conjunto music

Gregorio Cortez
Juanita Valez Cox: Director United Farm Workers, South Texas
Ruben Hinojosa: U.S. House of Representative
Coy Detmer: professional football
Jaime Garza: World Champion Feather Weight
Genaro Gonzalez: writer/psychologist
Jovita Gonzalez: writer/educator
Carlos Guzman: singer
Rolando Hinojosa: writer
Trish Hinojosa: singer/composer
Nicasio Idar: Newspaper publisher
Kris Kristofferson: actor/singer
Tom Landry: Dallas Cowboys coach

Narciso Martinez


Iwo-Jima

Jose Lopez: Congressional Medal of Honor
Rachel McLeash: bodybuilder/actor
MAZZ: music group
Sunny Ozuna: "Sunny and the Sunliners"
Americo Paredes: "father" of Mexican American folklore
Jody Ramsey: UTPA baseball player
Cornelio Reyna: singer/composer
Valente Rodriguez: actor
Niki Rowe: Vietnam hero
Trini Silva: actor
David Spielberg: actor
Ted Uhlander: professional baseball

If we left out someone, please let us know so that individual can be recognized. Just E-mail me at jegarza@panam.edu with the name and contribution that that individual made.


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