Roy R. Barrera Sr.

Roy R. Barrera Sr.
Barrera in 1968
Secretary of State of Texas
In office
March 7, 1968 – January 23, 1969
GovernorJohn Connally
Preceded byJohn Hill
Succeeded byMartin Dies Jr.
Personal details
BornRoy Ramiro Barrera
(1927-01-30)January 30, 1927
DiedMarch 14, 2026(2026-03-14) (aged 99)
San Antonio, Texas, U.S.
PartyDemocratic
Alma materSt. Mary's University of San Antonio

Roy Ramiro Barrera Sr. (January 30, 1927 – March 14, 2026) was an American politician. He served as secretary of state of Texas from 1968 to 1969.[1] He was Texas's first Hispanic secretary of state.[2]

Life and career

Barrera was born in San Antonio, Texas, on January 30, 1927.[3] He attended St. Mary's University of San Antonio.[4] After graduation Barrera signed up for the US Army during WW2 and was assigned to the 6th Infantry division,[5] being shipped to the Philippines where he shortly served before the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, then his unit was transferred to Korea to hunt for Japanese resistance and inform Japanese civilians in Korea that the war was over and to repatriate them back to Japan. He lost a finger during his time in Korea.[6]

Under Governor John Connally, he served as secretary of state of Texas from 1968 to 1969.[1]

Barrera died in San Antonio on March 14, 2026, at the age of 99.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b National Association of Secretaries of State Handbook, National Association of Secretaries of State (U.S.), 1980, p. 95
  2. ^ a b "Former Texas Secretary of State Roy Ramiro Barrera Sr. dies". Kens5. March 16, 2026. Retrieved March 16, 2026.
  3. ^ "Roy R. Barrera Sr". St. Mary's University Public History. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
  4. ^ The Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory: Volumes 1-17, Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory, Incorporated, 2002
  5. ^ "Roy Barrera Sr. Obituary (1927-2026) - San Antonio, Texas,..." MemoriTree. Retrieved March 17, 2026.
  6. ^ "Roy Barrera, Sr". Issuu. Retrieved March 17, 2026.