Portrait, José de la Luz Sáenz. Image available on the Internet and included in accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107.
Parents: Rosalio and Crispina Saenz
Born: May 17, 1888. Died: April 12, 1953
Married: Maria C Muzquiz (1892-1916)
Children: Jose Saenz (1916–1916)
Married: Maria Petra Esparza (1890-1958)
Children:
Adan Lazaro Saenz (B. December 17, 1912 (Alice). Died: September 14, 2004 Corpus Christi))
Maria de la Luz Saenz (B. March 27, 1918 (San Agustin) – Died: December 20, 2000 (McAllen))
Enrique de la Luz Saenz (B. April 19, 1920 (Moore) – Died: December 11, 2002 (Austin))
Evangelina Saenz Kinar (B. January 8, 1922 (New Braunfels) – Died: October 4, 1980 (Columbia, SC))
Eduardo F. Saenz (B. Sept. 17, 1923 (New Braunfels) – Died: December 19, 1981 (Rio Hondo))
Eva Olivia Saenz (B. October 26, 1925 (Benavides) – Died: March 22, 2017 (San Antonio))
Christina A. Balli (B. September 12, 1927 (Penitas) – Died: February 3, 2002 (Weslaco))
Beatriz Saenz (B. January 7, 1930 (Penitas) – Died: August 7, 2006 (Los Angeles, CA))
Jose de La Luz Saenz (B. November 17, 1935 (McAllen) – Died: August 11, 2020 (Gainesville, FL))
Bio:
Professor Jose de la Luz Saenz, well known educator, civic leader, and author, was born in Realitos, Texas on May 17, 1888. He was one of eight children born to Rosalio and Chrispina Saenz. He graduated from Alice High School in May of 1908. In the year 1917 he married Maria Petra Esparza, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Gregorio Esparza of Pleasanton.
With the declaration of World War I, he reported for military duty at Fort Sam Houston on January 12, 1918.
He served as a private with R. I. O. Headquarters Company 360th Infantry of the 90th Division in France.
Private Saenz completed his tour of duty June 17, 1919.
Professor Saenz taught in Texas public schools for over 40 years. He attended San Marcos State Teachers College, Texas A&I and earn his bachelor and master degrees from Sul Ross in Alpine. He was also graduated from Durham Business School in San Antonio.
He was a great believer in the Boy Scouts of America. He organized many troops in the schools where he taught. He knew the scouting program was dedicated to the task of building wholesome minds, bodies, and souls of youths.
During his tour of duty in the service Mr. Saenz maintained a diary which he later had published into a book entitled “Mexicanos – Americanos en la Gran Guerra Mundial”. It was written in Spanish. His writings appeared in many leading newspapers and magazines in South Texas. His articles appeared in The Valley Evening Monitor, La Prensa, La Verdad, La Voz, Texas Outlook, and many others.
Professor Saenz was one of the principal founders of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC). He placed great emphasis on civic pride in each citizen. The Honorable Judge J. T. Canales of Brownsville, the late Alonso S. Perales, attorney and Mr. Saenz worked courageously and zealously many years for the betterment of the Mexican-Americans in Texas.
He was a very active member in American Legion Post No. 37 in McAllen and in the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2369, also in McAllen.
He was a member of La Sociedad Mutualista of Sacred Heart Church.
In his role as a parent, Mr. Saenz the father of nine children, five girls and four boys. They are Maria de la Luz, Evanglina, Eva, Christina, Beatriz, Jose de la Luz Jr., Adan, Eduardo, and Enrique. He emphasized to each the great value of a good education as a sound basis for security in the future. He taught them and practiced devotedly the Catho-lie religion. He contributed greatly in church organizations and church benefits.
The dedicated and beloved educator and honest leader of Mexican-Americans, Jose de la Luz Saenz, died April 12, 1953 after a short illness at the Naval Hospital in Corpus Christi. He was interned at the Fort Sam Houston Cemetery, Fort Sam Houston, Texas.
Note: Alice, Texas named a school after him. And his papers are housed at Benson Library on the University of Texas Campus.
Photograph, Sáenz with school children from Moore, Texas, ca. 1910. Photo courtesy of José de la Luz Sáenz Papers, Mexican American Library Project, Nettie Lee Benson Latin American Collection, University of Texas at Austin. Image available on the Internet and included in accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107.
Photograph, U.S. Army, José de la Luz Sáenz, 1918. Photograph courtesy of José de la Luz Sáenz Papers, Mexican American Library Project, Nettie Lee Benson Latin American Collection, University of Texas at Austin. Image available on the Internet and included in accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107.
Picture, Alonso S. Perales with José de la Luz Sáenz in 1952. Perales is standing on the left. Both men were instrumental leaders for the League of United Latin American Citizens. Image courtesy of the University of Houston. Image available on the Internet and included in accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107.
Photograph, grave of José de la Luz Sáenz at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery . Image available on the Internet and included in accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107.
For more info:
Saenz Reunion 