He was born August 26, 1936, in San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico, to Francisco Hernández and Carmen San Román.
A man who loved Mexico and the United States — San Miguel de Allende and Fort Worth — he said he learned to love the cultures of both nations through the eyes of his American wife, Mary Clay.
Francisco studied law at the University of Guanajuato, becoming an attorney in 1969. In Mexico, his childhood friends called him “Perico,” the parrot, the talker, the debater, the “licenciado." In Fort Worth he was known by attorneys, judges and the Mexican community at large as the lawyer and court interpreter who helped immigrants and all who knocked at his door.
Many, surely too many to count, in both countries, received fatherly advice and financial help from Francisco. He loved the game of soccer and for decades supported and managed teams.
He was instrumental in the creation of the first soccer complex with lights in Fort Worth. In Mexico he was criticized for praying before games; in the US he was criticized for not respecting the referees. All respected him for his passion for the game and for helping young people through sports. He fought for the causes he believed in: the revitalization of Fairmount Subdivision, quality education in the schools, replanting of trees cut down by the city, and many other causes ... while remaining the “perfect gentleman.” He proudly became a citizen of the U.S. and aided many other immigrants in their quest for dual citizenship.
For many years, Francisco led morning “Cafés de Comida Espiritual” (at the Ol’ South Pancake House) and wrote a weekly newspaper column on the discussions. He said: “It is over coffee that the world is changed. It is over coffee that one lets the imagination and dreams take over. It is over coffee we can criticize without limit, and sometimes, over coffee, we discover good ideas and solutions to many problems. The old ones (and I don’t consider myself one of them) like to drink coffee and change the world. We may not change the world but we will truly enjoy our time." —
Francisco “Perico” Hernández San Román.
Francisco was preceded in death by his father, mother, and wife, Mary Clay.
Survivors: Siblings Lita, Maru, Manolo, Marta and Jaime; Children Juan Hernandez (and wife Estela), Marjorie Barnes, Nina Osuna (and Edward), Francisco Hernández, Jr., Daniel Hernandez (and Jennifer), and Mary Nyari (and Rudy); and 23 grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18