Welcome family and friends. Thank you for coming today. We gather here to celebrate the life of a great man. Manuel A. Velasco, was an inspiration to many who needed a figure in their lives. He was the best dad on earth, the good Lord had a hand in. “Dad,” Manuel A. Velasco, was born in 1928, in Eagle Pass, Texas, son of Runulfo and Sabitas A. Velasco. The middle child of two siblings.
Jose, the youngest of their children entered the seminary in San Antonio, Texas. He later joined the Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary. He was a pastor for twenty-four years. A very caring and big hearted individual.
Carmen, his older sister, was the first Hispanic woman of South, Texas to receive a Master’s degree. She had a heart for the Lord, family and education. She did Christmas gatherings every year and they were wonderful.
“Dad,” Manuel A. Velasco, was a Boy scout, in the, “Boy Scouts of America,” and was, “Explorer Scout Master.” He went to church with his parents and volunteered to clean the church on Saturday’s. He served in the U. S. Air Force, World War II Veteran from 1946-June 1949. The service sent him to Florida; from there flown to Panama. There he worked in a Communications Station and was in charge of that section and was also given lithim 2, then 3 stripes, yes, as a Sergeant.
After returning home from his service in the Air Force, he went home to Eagle Pass, Texas and the year his brother came from the minor seminar, when the Rio Grande, was in a flood stage as the Scout Master of the Sr. Scouts he and his brother Jose decided to make the most unforgettable venture; to take the Sr. Scouts in rubber rafts down the Rio Grande to Laredo, plus they toke eighteen youths in three rubber rafts to Laredo, through the Hoating rafts end made the trip in three days, this had never been done before.
Graduated from Saint Mary’s University, San Antonio, Texas with a LLB Degree. He had a very long career in law. He was engaged in the private practice of law in Victoria, Texas for the last thirteen years and was active in civic, community, and church work. Selected member to Victoria Independent School Board. In 1957, appointed to Planning Commission of Victoria U. S. Interior Dept. He was elected President of the American Citizen Social Club, having said, “Our kind of government is based upon Christian principles and those principles must be upheld to keep our Country strong and free.”
The U. S. Constitution enabled him to serve as Executive Secretary of American G. I. Forums of Texas for outstanding service as Executive Secretary and Veterans Organization of Mexican Americans seeking here all the rights we now have. He was very much involved in the Spanish Speaking rights of the Hispanic people of Latin America. In 1967, he became the first Legislative Counsel of America Samoa, to rewrite the laws of the Territory of American Samoa. And later served as the first Assistant Attorney General, being in charge of Immigration and Criminal Courts for about twenty months claiming, the Immigration Boards and thereby allowing him to attend a Governor’s Conference in the U. S. Appointed of Civil Rights Division Dept. of Justice Washington D. C. In charge of the Civil Rights of the Spanish Speaking in the U. S. Washington, D. C. under President Nixon. He was granted the right to go before the Supreme Court. In 1992, he resigned in Houston, Texas. Where he opened his second office, practicing law handling Civil cases, Immigration cases, Criminal cases from law cases, tickets in all courts locally and in the State of Texas. Clients were mostly Hispanic in work man’s comp. He wanted to become a lawyer and accomplished that and many more accomplishments.
Tender hearted but tough minded and with blessings of Our Lord, he used his mind to continue to do some of the necessary things for people locally. Representing people before Immigration Courts, all the courts of the City, County, District for fifty-four years. He is survived by his wife and children. Today we Salute, Honor, Respect, and Remember a good man who contributed to so much as an attorney, a brother, a husband, a father, a grandfather, a leader, a giver, a fighter, a friend, and a person. Thank God we had him so many years in our lives. His legacy lives on in our hearts, because of our faith we know we can see him again.
I love you Daddy, Sincerely with Love, appreciation and gratitude your daughter, Lisa Velasco
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