Raymond L. Telles and Lyndon B. Johnson - El Paso, Texas
Raymond L. Telles y Lindon B. Johnson

Raymond L. Telles and Lyndon B. Johnson - El Paso, Texas

Raymond L. Telles was the first Mexican-American elected mayor of El Paso. He was known as a pioneer in El Paso politics, a friend and close adviser of President John F. Kennedy and a former ambassador to Costa Rica. Telles devoted his life to public service, serving four times as El Paso County clerk and twice as El Paso mayor (1957-1961). He also devoted more than 30 years of service in the military and as a civilian troubleshooter and adviser for the federal government. Over the years, Telles was widely applauded for challenging the political circles dominated by whites in El Paso in the 1940s and 1950s and for disproving the notion that Mexican-Americans could not be elected to public office or effectively run a city. A symbol of dignity, Telles has been most applauded as the leader who gave Mexican-Americans a voice in El Paso politics. Telles received numerous recognitions in his lifetime, including recognition in 2006 as Mayor Emeritus of El Paso. He died in 2013 at an age of 97. In the photograph above he is being recognized and awarded by Lyndon B. Johnson president 36 of the United States.

Area: Central / Downtown

Source: C.L. Sonnichsen Special Collections, University of Texas at El Paso Library. Collection Name: Telles, Raymond. Photo ID: r_tellez-12.jpg.

Uploaded by: UTEP Library Special Collections

Comments

Add a comment
Thank you for your comment

Report this entry

Choose the most important reason for this report

Your name

Your email address

Optional detail

Thank you for your report

More from the same community-collection

BRIO, El Paso Chihuahuas Mascot Enjoys BRIO Opening Day

Photo: Mascot enjoys opening day for BRIO - 2014. Sun ...

Cortez Building

One of the sculpted heads on the Cortez Building. The Cortez ...

Cortez Building

A sculpted head on the Cortez Building.

Cortez building

A sculpted head on the Cortez Building.

Cortez Building

A sculpted head on the Cortez Building.

Cortez Building

Interior woodwork inside the Cortez Building.

Federal Courthouse

The old Federal Courthouse is to the right and behind the trees.

Federal Courthouse

The old Federal Courthouse is to the left in this photograph.

Federal Courthouse

Details on front of old Courthouse building.

Federal Courthouse, El Paso, TX circa 2014

Details on front of old Federal Courthouse.

Federal Courthouse

Tom Lea mural in Federal Courthouse.

Federal Courthouse

Tom Lea mural inside of Federal Courthouse in El Paso, Texas.

Downtown Historic District

The Downtown Historic District of El Paso, Texas, is the area ...

Chamizal National Memorial

Photo : Chamizal National Memorial sign located downtown El ...

Paydirt Pete & Amigo Man

Paydirt Pete and Amigo Man -- having fun at the El Paso Museum ...

Paydirt Pete & Amigo Man

Paydirt Pete and Amigo Man - having fun at the El Paso Museum of ...

BRIO

Sun Metro’s new rapid transit system, BRIO, will start service ...

BRIO

Sun Metro’s new rapid transit system, BRIO, will start service ...

BRIO

Sun Metro’s new rapid transit system, BRIO, will start service ...

BRIO

Sun Metro’s new rapid transit system, BRIO, will start service ...

BRIO

Sun Metro’s new rapid transit system, BRIO, will start service ...

BRIO

Sun Metro’s new rapid transit system, BRIO, will start service ...

BRIO

Sun Metro’s new rapid transit system, BRIO, will start service ...

home.search_collection