Gregory Luna
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Gregory Luna | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Texas Senate from the 26th district | |
| Succeeded by | Leticia Van de Putte |
| Member of the Texas House of Representatives from the 116th district | |
| In office 1985–1993 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 17 November 1932 |
| Died | November 6, 1999 (aged 66) |
| Party | Democratic |
Gregorio "Gregory" Luna[1](17 November 1932 – 6 November 1999) was a San Antonio, Texas politician who served as a Democrat in both the Texas House of Representatives and the Texas Senate for the 14 years from 1985 to 1999. While in the legislature, Luna was considered to be a "champion of education".[2] He was also one of the founders of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund, and served four terms as board chair.[3]
Luna was born to Eliseo and Elvira Luna in New Braunfels, Texas,[4] the youngest of their eight children.[5] When Gregory was seven months old, Eliseo Luna died and, shortly afterward, the family moved to San Antonio.Also brother of Federico Luna a civil rights activist in New Braunfels who fought discrimination in the 1940s[6] While growing up, Luna worked as a restaurant bus boy, a grocery-store sacker and in the mailroom at the San Antonio Express.[7]
At 21, after attending San Antonio College briefly,[8] Luna enlisted in the United States Army and served a short stint, advancing to the rank of corporal.[9] After his service, he joined the San Antonio Police Department. While an officer, Luna attended night classes and graduated from Trinity University with a Bachelor of Arts in math and St. Mary's University School of Law with a law degree. While an officer, Luna also helped train police officers in Venezuela as part of a U.S. government program. Luna began his law career as a prosecutor for the City of San Antonio, and opened a started a private law practice in 1968.[10]
Luna married Helen Garcia 21 August 1955 and had two sons and two daughters.[11]
