Las Gardenias — a women’s organization that was formed in San Marcos in the late 1940s — was a social club that promoted the cultural arts and Mexican heritage. The members supported the Mexican American community during the loss of a family member. They provided food and accompanied the family at the funeral. This was the beginning of organizing by women in San Marcos. Members included: Janie Vela Lucio, Mary Nevarez, Carolina Nevarez, Lily Ruiz and Lily Villalpando.
The National Office of the American GI Forum was formed in 1948. San Marcos founded its men’s chapter in 1954. The American GI Forum Ladies Auxiliary was formed, but the organization was active on and off for about three years. In 1957, it was reactivated and increased membership significantly, after the Voting Rights Act was passed and the movement took hold in San Marcos. For the first time in forum history, there were women officers at the district level.
The San Marcos Women’s Auxiliary was never content with just aiding and assisting the men’s chapter. They had their own projects and usually fought their own battles.
Sylvia Garza, current AGIF Chairwoman, stated “The 1960 election of John F. Kennedy motivated many women to think about politics. JFK made our people feel hopeful.” They were involved in the movement to elect JFK as they hosted “Viva Kennedy” club meetings and conducted voter registration. The Kennedy campaign confirmed that Mexican Americans were an emerging factor in national elections and ushered in a new state of affairs in which they no longer needed to deny their heritage to have a political voice.
In 1965, the Pioneer Women’s Club was formed to address Mexican American affairs. They met monthly at members’ homes and worked on community issues, including how to better support their children’s education. These discussions would evolve to include the “English Only” policies. The founding members were Nora Urrutia Ovalle, Belia Garza Mendez, Janie Vela Lucio, Hermelinda “Chita” Arredondo, Agripina Arredondo, Betty Nevarez Rodriguez and Gloria Nevarez Padilla. Additional members included: Baudelia Arredondo, Sylvia Nevarez Garza, Elida Garza and Loisa Rodriguez.
The Pioneer Women’s Club also formed the Pioneer Women’s Softball Team. Many members’ husbands participated in baseball teams. For years, the wives stayed home to care for the children while their husbands played baseball. In many ways, it was a response by the wives to “equalize” things for women. Many of the husbands were then required to stay home and take care of the children while the wives played ball. It was a brave step to take for many of the women.
The team was composed of Gloria N. Padilla, Sylvia N. Garza, Dora Resendez, Olga Miranda Lois Camacho, Mary Hale, Margie Lucio, Betty N. Rodriguez, Elsie Garcia, Belia G. Mendez, Nora Ovalle, Terry Barrera, Chita Arredondo and Deloria Bell “Punkin” Harris.
The Civil Rights Act passed in 1964. In 1968, women could not legally open a bank account in their name without their husband’s signature. Women could not apply for a credit card without permission or buy a house. And women could be fired from their job for getting pregnant.
According to Elida Mendez Simmons, former AGIF Women’s Auxiliary Chairwoman, and Sylvia Garza, current Chairwoman, the men were happy to have the women doing the leg work and working behind the scenes. The issues of the time included discrimination, especially at the school district. They advocated for equal education for all students and improvements in the Mexican American barrios, some of which lacked street signs, paved streets or rarely received city services.
They got involved with local banks regarding hiring of bilingual Mexican Americans bank tellers (for the Spanish speaking community). They participated in efforts at then Southwest Texas State University, now Texas State University, when Blacks were being denied entry, and they showed up on the first day of classes to accompany the arriving Black students. When Rio Vista Public Pool was built, the women’s auxiliary also protested the city’s policy of not allowing Blacks entry to the pool.
As a result of these womens’ involvement, Luciano Flores was elected as first Hispanic Mayor of San Marcos. Subsequently, Ruben Ruiz, Frank Contreras, Jesse Saucedo, Peter Rodriguez, Ofelia Vasquez, John T. Polanco Sr., Ralph Gonzales and Frank Arredondo were elected to city, county and local offices during that era. Elida Mendez became the first Hispanic woman elected to the San Marcos City Council (1981). Debbie Gonzales Ingalsbe became the first woman elected to the Hays County Commissioners Court (1996).
More information and a photo of the AGIF Women’s Auxiliary can be seen at the “The Past Within Us” museum exhibit at the historic courthouse downtown, located at 111 E San Antonio Street Suite 104 on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The museum will be closed during the 4th of July weekend.
