Trinidad "Trini" Garza's Obituary
Mr. Trinidad Perales "Trini" Garza, age 92, passed away on Thursday, November 30, 2023, in Dallas, Texas. He will be sincerely missed by his loving family, devoted friends, and all the wonderful individuals who knew and loved him.
Trini was born in Stockdale Texas on September 22,1931 to Gabriel and Carmen Garza. He was baptized in the Methodist and Catholic Church. His migrant worker family moved to Floresville, TX, near San Antonio. He lost his mother when he was 12 and his father five years later, leaving him as the oldest to care for his two younger sisters and brother. Trini began his academic career as a first grader at Lodi Elementary School in Floresville only speaking Spanish. He completed elementary school as Valedictorian and would eventually graduate from Floresville High School.
After graduating high school, he moved to San Antonio, taking his brother with him after arranging scholarships to a Christian boarding school for his sisters. He worked, went to school at night and joined the Naval Reserves.
He went into active duty in 1952-1955 and served in the Korean War. He received the National Defense Service Medal and Boxing Champion on his ship. After the Navy, Trini returned to San Antonio to continue his college education and meet his future wife, Benilde Mendoza, at a United Methodist Young Adult mixer. After marrying Benilde, Trini transferred to Texas A&M and received his degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1961. Trini has touted the value of education ever since.
After his graduation, Trini moved to Dallas to begin his career with LTV Corp., and his laity service to the United Methodist Church and the Dallas community. Trini always credited the Methodist Church for pointing him in a positive direction and developing his leadership skills. He remained active in the Rio Grande Conference and then in the North Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church.
In 1969 Trini was appointed to the Dallas Independent School District, and in 1970 he won election to the Board of Trustees, becoming the first Hispanic to serve on the Dallas Independent School District. Trini also organized Dallas’ first Mexican American Leadership Conference, advocating and seeking Mexican American presence on city and county boards and commissions. Later he served on the Tri-Ethnic Committee, overseeing desegregation of the Dallas Independent School District.
Around 1972 Trini and Benilde opened Ranchero Restaurant in West Dallas, specializing in Fajitas, Carnitas, Barbacoa, Menudo and Guisado de Res and Puerco. Benilde’s dream was to then open a concession stand at the State Fair of Texas. In 1983 Benilde and Trini Garza opened a concession stand at the State Fair of Texas introducing and serving Beef Fajitas and Homemade Pork Tamales. Now the family operates multiple stands, and this year we celebrated our 40th year anniversary of their State Fair dream.
Trini continued advocacy in education and community service. President Jimmy Carter appointed him to serve as the Regional Director of ACTION. In 1991, he was elected to the DISD School Board for a second time, giving the Board of Trustees majority minority representation. He resigned in 1994 to accept President Bill Clinton's appointment as Deputy Regional Director of the U.S. Department of Education.
In 2010, Trini was honored by having the Trinidad Garza Early College High School named for him at Mountain View College. Trini’s legacy with students and education will continue long after he is gone. Just to name a few of his boards and commissions, Trini served on The Texas Silver Hair Legislature, the Dallas Mexican American Historic League (DMAHL), the League of Latin American Citizens (LULAC), Tejano Democrats of Texas, founding Board Member of Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART), Charlton Methodist Hospital, Dallas CAN Academy, West Dallas Community Centers, Inc., Senior Affairs Commission, City of Dallas, Texas A&M Century Club Member and The Greater Dallas Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
He has been honored and bestowed numerous awards, which included the Dallas Historical Society’s “History Maker Award for Volunteer Community Service” and the Southwest Jewish Congress’ “Stan Golden Men of Action Award”.
Trini was a blessed man and is survived by his sister Juanita (Janie) Garza Martinez and husband Nicolas, now deceased, his brother Jesus (Jesse) Garza, his son Jerome Garza and his wife Paula, his daughter Norma Garza, his twin daughters Bernice Robledo and her husband Richard and Denise Garza De La Cruz and her husband Juan, and his honorary daughter Gloria Lopez Carter and her husband John. He is also survived by his 12 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his sister Felicitas Garza Salazar and her husband Dionisio, and his loving wife of 57 years Benilde Mendoza Garza.
Family will receive friends between 6:00-8:00PM on Thursday, December 7, 2023, at Kessler Park United Methodist Church in Dallas. A prayer service will begin at 7PM during the Visitation.
A Celebration of Life will commence at 12:00 Noon on Friday, December 8, 2023, at Kessler Park United Methodist Church in Dallas.
Trini will be laid to rest in a private ceremony at Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Trini Garza Early College High Scholarship Fund: https://www.dallasisd.org/domain/33503
What’s your fondest memory of Trinidad?
What’s a lesson you learned from Trinidad?
Share a story where Trinidad's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Trinidad you’ll never forget.
How did Trinidad make you smile?