Raymond Telles

Raymond L. Telles Jr. (September 5, 1915 March 8, 2013) was the first Mexican-American Mayor of a major American city, El Paso, Texas.[1] He was also the first Hispanic appointed as a U.S. ambassador.

Raymond L. Telles Jr.
Telles in 1961
United States Ambassador to Costa Rica
In office
May 22, 1961  February 19, 1967
PresidentJohn F. Kennedy
Preceded byWhiting Willauer
Succeeded byClarence A. Boonstra
32nd Mayor of El Paso
In office
1957–1961
Preceded byTom E. Rogers
Succeeded byRalph Seitsinger
Personal details
Born(1915-09-05)September 5, 1915
El Paso, Texas
DiedMarch 8, 2013(2013-03-08) (aged 97)
Sherman Oaks, California
Resting placeEl Paso, Texas
NationalityAmerican

Born in El Paso and educated as an accountant, Telles worked at the United States Department of Justice for eight years. He was drafted into the Army in 1941. Telles then served in the U.S. Army Air Force where he became Chief of the Lend-Lease Program for Central and South America. Telles left the service with the rank of major.

Telles received the Peruvian Flying Cross, the Order of the Southern Cross from Brazil, the Mexican Legion of Merit and Colombian wings in recognition of the Lend-Lease Program. Telles served as aide to several Latin American and Mexican presidents visiting the United States, and as military aide to Presidents Harry S. Truman and Dwight D. Eisenhower when visiting Mexico City.

Telles was elected county clerk for El Paso County, Texas in 1948.

In 1951, Telles was recalled for the Korean War. He served as Executive Officer of the 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Group, U.S. Air Force.

Telles was elected in 1957 mayor of El Paso and ran unopposed for a second term (1959–1961). He was appointed by President John F. Kennedy as Ambassador to Costa Rica. In 1967 President Lyndon B. Johnson appointed Telles chairman of the U.S.-Mexican Border Commission.

In 1971, President Richard Nixon appointed him chairman of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission for the United States. Telles died on March 8, 2013 in Sherman Oaks, California at the age of 97.[2]

References

  1. Garcia, Mario T. (1998). The Making of a Mexican American Mayor: Raymond L. Telles of El Paso. El Paso, Tex.: Texas Western Press, University of Texas at El Paso. ISBN 0-87404-276-3. OCLC 39513667.
  2. "Former Mayor Raymond L. Telles Sr. has died | News - Home". Kvia.com. 2013-02-22. Archived from the original on 2013-04-11. Retrieved 2013-03-09.
Civic offices
Preceded by
Tom E. Rogers (1955-1957)
Mayor of El Paso
1957–1961
Succeeded by
Ralph Seitsinger (1961-1963)
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by
Whiting Willauer
United States Ambassador to Costa Rica
May 22, 1961–February 19, 1967
Succeeded by
Clarence A. Boonstra
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