HENRY BARBOSA GONZALEZ
Name: Henry Barbosa Gonzalez
Born: 3 May 1916
Died: 28 November 2000
Henry Barbosa Gonzalez (May 3, 1916 – November 28, 2000) was a Democratic
politician from the state of Texas. He represented Texas's 20th congressional
district from 1961 to 1999.
Gonzalez was born in San Antonio, Texas, to parents who had immigrated during
the Mexican Revolution. He attended the University of Texas at Austin and San
Antonio College, earning his undergraduate degree. Later, he received a Juris
Doctor from St. Mary's University School of Law. Upon graduation, he became a
probation officer, and was quickly promoted to the chief office of Bexar County,
Texas.
Gonzalez served on the San Antonio city council from 1953 to 1956. He was then a
member of the Texas state senate from 1956 to 1961. Gonzalez set the Texas
Senate record by filibustering a set of bills on segregation for 22 straight
hours. Most of the bills were abandoned (eight out of ten). He ran for governor
in 1958, finishing second in the Democratic primary (the real contest for
governor in a solidly Democratic state) to Senator Price Daniel. In January 1961,
Gonzalez ran in the special election for Lyndon Johnson's Senate seat, finishing
sixth. However, in September, 20th District Congressman Paul J. Kilday was
appointed to the Court of Military Appeals. Gonzalez ran in the special election
for the San Antonio-based district in November and won. He was unopposed for a
full term the next year, and was reelected seventeen times. He never faced truly
serious or well-funded opposition, running unopposed in 1970, from 1974 to 1978,
1982 and 1984. In fact, the 20th was (and still is) so heavily Democratic that
Gonzalez faced Republican opposition only five times, winning easily each time.
Gonzalez became known for his liberal views. In 1963, Congressman Ed Foreman
called Gonzalez a "communist" and a "pinko" and Gonzalez confronted him.
Gonzalez was referred to as a "communist" in 1986 by a man at Earl Abel's
restaurant that was a popular San Antonio eatery. The representative responded
by punching him in the face. Gonzalez was acquitted of assault for this incident.
Gonzalez chaired the committee that investigated the deaths of John F. Kennedy
and Martin Luther King, Jr. He introduced legislation calling for the
impeachment of Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush. Gonzalez also blocked
hearings into Whitewater until finally agreeing to hold hearings in 1994. In
1997, Gonzalez fell ill and he was unable to return to the House for over a year.
Finally, he decided not to run for a 19th full term in 1998. He had long groomed
his son, Charlie, to succeed him. Charlie Gonzalez won easily in 1998 and still
holds the seat; between them, father and son have served 46 consecutive years in
Congress (as of November, 2007).
On October 24, 2006, it was announced that Congressman Gonzalez's personal notes,
correspondence and mementos would become part of the Congressional History
Collection at the University of Texas at Austin's Center for American History.
Gonzalez's granddaughter, Rebecca Ramos, is a model and was named Playmate of
the Month in January 2003 by Playboy Magazine.
Name: Henry Barbosa Gonzalez
Born: 3 May 1916
Died: 28 November 2000
Henry Barbosa Gonzalez (May 3, 1916 – November 28, 2000) was a Democratic
politician from the state of Texas. He represented Texas's 20th congressional
district from 1961 to 1999.
Gonzalez was born in San Antonio, Texas, to parents who had immigrated during
the Mexican Revolution. He attended the University of Texas at Austin and San
Antonio College, earning his undergraduate degree. Later, he received a Juris
Doctor from St. Mary's University School of Law. Upon graduation, he became a
probation officer, and was quickly promoted to the chief office of Bexar County,
Texas.
Gonzalez served on the San Antonio city council from 1953 to 1956. He was then a
member of the Texas state senate from 1956 to 1961. Gonzalez set the Texas
Senate record by filibustering a set of bills on segregation for 22 straight
hours. Most of the bills were abandoned (eight out of ten). He ran for governor
in 1958, finishing second in the Democratic primary (the real contest for
governor in a solidly Democratic state) to Senator Price Daniel. In January 1961,
Gonzalez ran in the special election for Lyndon Johnson's Senate seat, finishing
sixth. However, in September, 20th District Congressman Paul J. Kilday was
appointed to the Court of Military Appeals. Gonzalez ran in the special election
for the San Antonio-based district in November and won. He was unopposed for a
full term the next year, and was reelected seventeen times. He never faced truly
serious or well-funded opposition, running unopposed in 1970, from 1974 to 1978,
1982 and 1984. In fact, the 20th was (and still is) so heavily Democratic that
Gonzalez faced Republican opposition only five times, winning easily each time.
Gonzalez became known for his liberal views. In 1963, Congressman Ed Foreman
called Gonzalez a "communist" and a "pinko" and Gonzalez confronted him.
Gonzalez was referred to as a "communist" in 1986 by a man at Earl Abel's
restaurant that was a popular San Antonio eatery. The representative responded
by punching him in the face. Gonzalez was acquitted of assault for this incident.
Gonzalez chaired the committee that investigated the deaths of John F. Kennedy
and Martin Luther King, Jr. He introduced legislation calling for the
impeachment of Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush. Gonzalez also blocked
hearings into Whitewater until finally agreeing to hold hearings in 1994. In
1997, Gonzalez fell ill and he was unable to return to the House for over a year.
Finally, he decided not to run for a 19th full term in 1998. He had long groomed
his son, Charlie, to succeed him. Charlie Gonzalez won easily in 1998 and still
holds the seat; between them, father and son have served 46 consecutive years in
Congress (as of November, 2007).
On October 24, 2006, it was announced that Congressman Gonzalez's personal notes,
correspondence and mementos would become part of the Congressional History
Collection at the University of Texas at Austin's Center for American History.
Gonzalez's granddaughter, Rebecca Ramos, is a model and was named Playmate of
the Month in January 2003 by Playboy Magazine.