Oscar R. Valadez

OSCAR RUBEN VALADEZ SR., 82, is to be remembered as a loving father and son, compassionate community leader, and dedicated educator who entered God’s Heavenly Kingdom on March 22, 2012. Born into a pioneer Tejano farming and ranching family on May 15, 1929 in Mission, Texas, his parents were Juanita Rendon Silguero and Ventura Soto Valadez. A 1947 graduate of Mission High School, he served honorably in the U.S. Army during the Korean War from 1950-1952. He graduated from Pan American University in 1953 with a Bachelor’s Degree in History and Educational Administration. In 1959, he received his Master’s Degree in Education Administration and Social Sciences from Texas Arts and Industries University (Texas A & I) in Kingsville, Texas. Post-graduate and doctoral work was completed at the University of Texas, Southern Methodist University, and East Texas State University (now part of the Texas A & M system) in Commerce, Texas.

Prior to entering the military, he was a teacher at Zapata ISD and then La Joya ISD. Upon his return home, he was employed by Mission ISD from 1953 until 1970, where he held the positions of teacher and Assistant Principal at Roosevelt Elementary, Pearson Elementary School Principal, and Mission Junior High School Principal. Recruited by Dr. Nolan Estes of Dallas ISD in 1970, he was named the first Mexican American to hold the position of high school principal, serving at North Dallas High School. He was also Coordinator for the Dallas Secondary Teacher Education Center. As the first Mexican American Vice-Chancellor of the Dallas County Community College District, he remained there until his appointment to Vice-President of the El Paso Community College District. He was later a school administrator in Socorro ISD and San Elizario ISD Superintendent until his return to the Rio Grande Valley in 1983. He remained with Hidalgo ISD until his retirement from education in 1988 as Assistant Superintendent. He then worked as the first Rio Grande Valley Regional Director for Teach For America and supervised Alternative Certification student teachers for Tarleton State University.

Active in the Rio Grande Valley, Dallas, and the El Paso areas, he was a member and leader in various civic organizations, including the Knights of Colombus, the Lions Club, the Rotary Club, IMAGE, Hispanic and area Chambers of Commerce, West Texas Council of Governments (COG), the El Paso Water Quality Board, and El Paso Higher Education Committee. He served on the Dallas Tri-Ethnic Committee and the Greater Dallas Human Relations Commission. He was a member of the Dallas Alliance Desegregation Committee that developed the plan used to desegregate Dallas ISD.

His professional memberships included the Texas Association of Chicanos in Higher Education (TACHE), Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA), Texas Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, Texas State Teachers Association, and the Texas State Council of International Reading Association. He was the Director of the El Paso Special Education Cooperative, Director for the El Paso Teacher Education Center, and served on the Executive Committee for the University Interscholastic League.

A trailblazer in both education and health, he was the oldest patient to receive a Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) at Baylor Hospital in Dallas, Texas.

Previously married to Gloria Eugenia Reyna, he is survived by their children: Cynthia Imelda Valadez and husband, Orlando Mata; Oscar Ruben Valadez Jr.; Daniel David Valadez and wife, Laurie; Noel Dennis Valadez; Alex Xavier Valadez and wife, Olga; and Liliana Gloria Valadez Beavers and husband, Keith. He is also survived by his sister, Dora Valadez Garza and husband, Edward “Eddie”; 19 grandchildren; and 5 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his son, Joel (Jay) Valadez; his brothers, Manuel Valadez and Ventura Valadez; his parents, Juanita Silguero and Ventura Soto Valadez; his paternal grandparents, Josefa Soto and Ventura Valadez; and his maternal grandparents, Guadalupe Rendon and Florentino Silguero.

The family wishes to thank the doctors, nurses, and staff at both Baylor Hospital in Dallas and VITAS Hospice Center in Irving, Texas for the loving and exceptional care provided to our father. May God bless them all.

On Saturday, March 24, 2012, there will be a visitation with the family at Sparkman-Crane Funeral Home, 10501 Garland Road, Dallas, Texas 75218 from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. The Rosary will be recited immediately following.

On Monday, March 26, 2012, there will be a subsequent visitation with the

family at Virgil Wilson Funeral Home, 2200 North Conway, Mission, Texas 78572

from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. The Rosary will be recited immediately following.

On Tuesday, March 27, 2012, a Funeral Mass will be celebrated at Our Lady of

Guadalupe Catholic Church, 620 North Dunlap, Mission, Texas 78572 at 10 a.m.

Interment will be at Laurel Hill Cemetery, North Holland Road, Mission, Texas.

Pallbearers are Oscar Ruben Valadez Jr., Daniel David Valadez, Noel Dennis Valadez, Alex Xavier Valadez, Joseph Rene Yanes, and Daniel Javier Perez.