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Features for Senior Citizens
Dying Wish – 'Save Social Security, Support
Veterans, Fix Health Care'
 WWII Vet, senior citizen, activist leaves unique
request in lieu of flowers
By Tucker Sutherland, editor
July 18, 2006 – "In lieu of flowers: SAVE SOCIAL
SECURITY, SUPPORT VETERANS' BENEFITS, FIX OUR BROKEN HEALTH CARE
SYSTEM!" That is what Romulo A. (Chacho) Munguia asked to be placed in
his obituary that was published today in the San Antonio Express-News.
Munguia died Saturday at age 79 and will be buried
tomorrow in the Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery.
The Word War II veteran was a member of a prominent
"West Side" family in San Antonio that made their living as printers and
earned their reputations in local politics and community leadership. The
"West Side" was long recognized as the Hispanic center of this South
Texas city.
Chacho and his siblings followed the lead of their
dad, also named Romulo, in the printing business and community activism.
The father had fought in the Mexican Revolution and escaped to Texas.
For many years, Chacho published a flyer named the
Caramba Gazette, to promote his ideas on local issues.
"He always believed that people had a right to
disagree but to discuss their differences intelligently, and he was not
afraid to let people know where he stood on the issues," his daughter,
Kathleen, told the newspaper.
Chaco stayed busy in the back of the print shop on
Buena Vista St., while his older brother, Ruben worked the front.
Virtually every political campaign – Democrat and Republican - came to
Munguia's for printing and to garner advice from the brothers.
Their sister, Elvira, married George Cisneros and
became the mother of one of the most recognized Hispanic politicians in
America: Henry Cisneros.
Henry, no doubt influenced by the political
activism of the Munguia family, became the Mayor of San Antonio - the
first Hispanic mayor of a prominent American city - and served as a key
member of President Bill Clinton's cabinet.
It is another story of an immigrant family that has
contributed more than its share to making this a better country.
>> News story in San Antonio Express-News –
click
>> Obituary in San Antonio Express-News -
click
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