Sign up for TPR Today, Texas Public Radio's newsletter that brings our top stories to your inbox each morning.
San Antonio mourned the death of Joe Bernal, the Democratic politician known for championing education and civil rights.
Bernal served in the state House and Senate from 1964 to 1972, where he fought for the state's first bilingual education law and the end of de jure segregation in Texas, as well as the creation of the University of Texas at San Antonio and the UT Health Science Center.
Dr. Joe Bernal was a true champion of justice, education, and equality. From fighting discrimination in the Texas Legislature to advocating for bilingual education and creating opportunities for underrepresented communities, his legacy is one of courage and compassion.
— Melissa Cabello Havrda (@melissaforsa) January 26, 2025
Born into… pic.twitter.com/U817LSJoXo
Bernal was born in San Antonio on March 1, 1927. He said he grew up poor but his family was "rich in spirit." He graduated from Lanier High School, and he was an advocate for bilingual education at a time when it was discouraged.
Following a deployment to the Pacific during World War II, he attended Trinity University. He received a master's degree from Our Lady of the Lake University and a doctorate from the University of Texas at Austin.
Bernal was honored by the San Antonio Independent School District with an Inspire Award in 2019, presented by former State Rep. Leticia Van De Putte.
"It was because of people like Joe Bernal who took that passion and enthusiasm for his community and turned it into action and public policy that benefited, not just the people of San Antonio, but future generations of people in this state," Van De Putte said.
Aurelio Montemayor was a young English teacher when he first met Bernal in 1968. He said it took courage for Bernal to introduce legislation that allowed teachers to teach in Spanish without being fined.
"It was a major thing, because before that, it was illegal to speak Spanish in school. Even though I was taught by Spanish-speaking teachers in Laredo, I grew up in the border, we were forbidden," he said. "They would even follow us in the playground and take notes off that we were speaking Spanish at recess; it was that extreme.”
Montemayor said Bernal wasn’t afraid to take political risks to fight for what he believed in. He said he was proven right because things that were extremely controversial at the time are now commonplace.
Montemayor has worked for the Intercultural Development Research Association for 49 years. He first met Bernal during the Commission on Civil Rights hearings in 1968.
“One of the challenges he saw, and I agreed with him, was that schools didn't see Mexican American kids as college material," he said. "They saw us as people to work with their hands and do low paid jobs and things like that. And so, his push was constant, you know, how do we get our kids on a college track?”
Montemayor said Bernal wanted colleges in San Antonio so that they'd be accessible.
“For a lot of kids, let's say from the West side of San Antonio, where Joe was from, thinking of even going to U of H was something very difficult, but if they were going to go to school here in San Antonio at UTSA, the University of Texas [at] San Antonio, and then get into the science field, it will, it will be all in their backyard, and it was available.”
I am deeply saddened to hear of the passing of State Senator Dr. Joe Bernal. An army veteran, educator, former Texas State Representative and Texas State Senator, civil rights champion, and tireless advocate for education, he was an inspiration to so many people, including me. pic.twitter.com/JUN1fNUra1
— José Menéndez (@Menendez4Texas) January 26, 2025
Bernal was the first executive director of the Mexican American Legislative Caucus.
After his career in politics, he became an assistant superintendent for the Harlandale Independent School District and then served on the Texas Board of Education.
Bernal's family told the San Antonio Express-News that he died at home on Saturday at age 97, surrounded by loved ones, and wearing his Bernal Middle School Black Knights shirt.
Northside ISD named the school after him in 2014.
He was survived by two sons, a daughter, eight grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.
Bernal will be buried at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery. Services were pending.