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Congressional Daily Record
This section is a tribute, commemoration, or district-facing statement. It mentions members such as Joaquin Castro. Extensions of Remarks are statements submitted for the official record, even if they were not spoken live on the floor.
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April 27, 2026
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Extensions of Remarks
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Download official Extensions PDFReturn to issue contextHON. JOAQUIN CASTRO
of texas
in the house of representatives
Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Mr. Roy Ramiro Barrera, Sr., who passed away on Sunday, March 15, 2026. A legal giant in San Antonio and across the state of Texas, Mr. Barrera helped pave the way for Hispanic excellence in the legal profession. He is survived by his children, Yolanda Barrera Arellano, Roy Barrera, Jr., Gilbert Barrera, Carmen Barrera Ramirez, and Robert Barrera, along with many beloved grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
As a child, Mr. Barrera demonstrated an undeniable work ethic and worked numerous jobs throughout the San Antonio community. While in high school at San Antonio Vocational and Technical School, Mr. Barrera met Carmen Zendejas, where the two sparked a relationship that would last over seven decades, including 67 years of marriage.
1944, Mr. Barrera joined the U.S. Army and served in the Asiatic- Pacific Theater during World War II. While overseas, he received two overseas service bars and a good conduct medal.
Following his honorable discharge in 1946, using G.I. Bill benefits, he enrolled in the St. Mary's University School of Law. He would go on to earn his Juris Doctorate in 1951. That same year he joined the Bexar County District Attorney's Office as an assistant district attorney. In 1957, at the age of 28, he argued before the U.S. Supreme Court in Alcorta v. Texas. In that same year, he and fellow prosecutor, Anthony Nicholas, started their own firm, Nicholas & Barrera.
As Mr. Barrera built his legal career, in 1968, Texas Governor John Conally appointed him to become the first Hispanic Secretary of State. In 1973 he served as the first Hispanic President of the San Antonio Bar Association and remained a State Bar of Texas Foundation Fellow until his death. Mr. Barrera continued to practice law into his nineties, remaining a constant, invaluable resource for generations of attorneys.
Mr. Speaker, please join me in recognizing the incredible life and remarkable legacy of Mr. Roy Barrera, Sr. He inspired many. He was a true leader, and I am grateful for his decades of service to our San Antonio community.