Florentino Duran

On Sunday, June 25, 2017, Florentino Duran, 82, passed peacefully in his sleep. He leaves his wife of 62 years, Amelia "Millie" Duran; his sons, Tino Duran Jr. and wife Susan, David Duran and wife Norma, Steve Duran and wife Virginia; his daughters, Margie Freeman and husband Kenneth and Nina Duran; 13 grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his biological father Florentino Mejia, his adopted father Sam Duran and his mother Esther Garcia.

Florentino was born on October, 24, 1934 and grew up on the West Side of town in the Alazan –Apache Courts. He attended Crockett Elementary and later went to Lanier High School where served as the school newspaper editor and took on several student council campaigns.

After Tino graduated high school he married the love of his life, Amelia "Millie" Jimenez. Together they raised a beautiful family of five children; three sons and two daughters. Tino then went on to serve in the U.S. Air Force from 1954-1958 as an Airman 1st Class. Upon leaving the Air Force, he went to St. Mary's University and received a B.A. in political science and later his Master's in public administration.

After graduating he worked for the Bexar County Juvenile Probation Department and it was only a year later that Senator Yarborough reached out to Tino, informing him about his appointment as executive assistant to the Lyndon B. Johnson Administration.

Over the years, Duran held many honorable positions, including executive assistant to Mayor John Gatti, executive director for the Housing Authority of Bexar County, president of the National Association of Hispanic Publications for five years and executive vice president of the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

In the mid-1980s, Tino became general manager of "El Sol de Tejas" in Dallas, and then opened "El Informador Hispaño" in Fort Worth. In 1989, he and his wife revived La Prensa de San Antonio, the city's only family-owned bilingual newspaper. Together Tino and Millie made the executive decision to print only positive news and 28 years later, the newspaper has held true to its roots.

Just years after reopening La Prensa, Tino and his wife Millie opened the La Prensa Foundation, their proudest achievement. Over $2.3 million has been raised over the years to help students facing financial challenges attain a higher education that otherwise wouldn't be possible.

In 2014, Tino was inducted into the Texas Newspaper Hall of Fame and it was then that he began his walk with Alzheimer's.

Tino was a man of unwavering faith. Even through his toughest battle he remained steadfast in the Lord, never once questioning his heavenly Father. He walked the walk and he talked the faithful talk up until his end of days.

Visitations will be held on Wednesday, July 5 from 1 p.m. - 7 p.m. The family will receive guests on Wednesday from 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. Funeral services will be held Thursday, July 6 at 9 a.m. at Porter Loring on McCullough followed by his burial at Ft. Sam Houston at 11 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the La Prensa Foundation.

Tino Duran, Presente!