Santos S. Garza

SANTOS S. GARZA, ALSO KNOWN AS “DON SANTOS” OR “FATHER OF SAN FELIPE SCHOOLS,” WAS BORN NOV. 2, 1881 IN EITHER PIEDRAS NEGRAS OR EAGLE PASS. HE CAME TO DEL RIO IN 1898 WHERE HE OWNED NUMEROUS BUSINESSES INCLUDING A THEATER, GENERAL STORE, DAIRY, PHARMACY, RANCH AND BAR. HE MARRIED JESUSITA MENCHACA GALINDO ON JAN. 3, 1901, AND THEY HAD FIVE CHILDREN AND ADOPTED A SIXTH. GARZA WAS A CIVIC LEADER WHO IS BEST REMEMBERED FOR PREVENTING THE ANNEXATION OF THE SAN FELIPE AREA BY DEL RIO INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT IN 1928, ALLOWING HIS COMMUNITY GREATER CONTROL OF ITS SCHOOLS, AND FOR HIS LEADERSHIP IN THE MOVEMENT TOWARDS CREATING THE SAN FELIPE I.S.D. ON AUG. 21, 1929. GARZA DIED JUL. 25, 1936.

Santos S. Garza is a historical marker in Del Rio, Val Verde County, dedicated in 2011. It is one of 61 historical markers documented in Val Verde County in the Texas Historical Commission Atlas, among 78 historic sites cataloged across the county.

The site sits at 29.3546, -100.8906 near Del Rio. The nearest cataloged historic site is Brown Plaza (historical marker), about 0.3 miles away. Others within a short drive include Perry, Building, Old, Bean, Roy C. S. A., and Seminole-Negro Scouts.

This record corresponds to Texas Historical Commission Atlas #5507016780. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.