Dr. Joe J. Bernal

DR. JOE J. BERNAL
January 25, 2025
On January 25, 2025, Dr. Joe J. Bernal, pioneering bilingual educator, groundbreaking political leader, consequential Texas legislator and relentless force for Mexican American Civil Rights, died at 97 years old.
Raised on the Westside of San Antonio during the depths of the depression, he leaves an impactful legacy. Rooted in working class Mexican cultural and Catholic values, he was devoted to his loving family with a life-long dedication to improving the lives of others. He became an inspirational teacher and coach, compassionate social worker, resolute bilingual education advocate, generations-impacting legislator, and forceful local, state and national political leader.
Joe B, as he was affectionately called, along with his child nickname Chema was born at 711 Torreon, which he proudly referred to as el Callejon and wore as a badge of honor. His father died when Joe was twelve. His mother's humble, honest and firm but loving manner and her devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe helped him form a foundation for living a life dedicated to helping others.
He loved his barrio neighborhood often sharing vivid childhood memories with his friends from Lanier High School. Joe and his fellow Lanierites regularly shared these memories at Ray's Drive Inn of historic puffy taco fame. These childhood memories formed an unbreakable bond of friendship between the Lanierites and others from the neighborhood that extended throughout Joe's lifetime. He always kept his beloved Lanier community in the forefront of his mind during his teaching and legislative careers.
Joe volunteered and entered active US Army duty in 1944, was promoted to staff sergeant at age 19 and received an honorable discharge in 1946. He trained for the infantry during Army preparations for an anticipated high-casualty invasion of Japan but was redirected to the Philippines after the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings. He was then assigned to the Headquarters Squadron, Pacific Air Command in Tokyo.
When Joe returned home, he enrolled in college on the GI Bill graduating from Trinity University in 1950 with a degree in sociology and a teaching certificate. His first teaching job was in Kosciusko, Texas, a small Polish immigrant community, where he taught elementary classes. He then taught in Edgewood ISD from 1951-54 and continued his post-graduate studies at Our Lady of the Lake University, where he met his bride, Mary Esther, a music major and accomplished pianist and organist. Joe walked the hallways of OLLU drawn to the beautiful piano music emanating from her classroom. They were an amazing team for 65 years in marriage devoted to educational opportunities for others. Joe taught sixth grade at Crockett Elementary school in SAISD from 1954-64. In 1978, Joe earned his Ph.D. in Education at the University of Texas.
Joe was recruited to run for the Texas House of Representatives in 1964 where he served for 2 years before serving 6 years in the Texas Senate. His first bill in the House resulted from his social work with the elderly immigrant parents of fellow World War II veterans who were not eligible for state supported old age assistance. This prompted him lead a successful voter approved constitutional amendment by securing support from colleagues who had German, Czech and Polish immigrant families and constituents also needing old age assistance support. He used this lesson of success to find common ground with others throughout the rest of his life.
In the Senate he was responsible for the enactment of laws pertaining to civil rights, voting rights, lowering the voter age to 18 years, the first minimum wage, and the establishing the University of Texas at San Antonio and the dental and nursing schools at the UT Health Science Center in San Antonio. Because of his teaching background, Joe sponsored legislation giving teachers time to prepare lessons, improving equal educational opportunities for Texas children, establishing free statewide kindergarten programs for five-year-olds, removing the prohibition of teaching in a language other than English and establishing Texas bilingual education programs.
In 1968, Joe was one of the founding members of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund (MALDEF), an organization devoted to the civil rights of the Mexican American community.
After his stint in the Texas Legislature, Joe was elected to the Texas State Board of Education, where he served an additional 10 years, focusing on educational reforms, curriculum and bilingual and dual language education. He was instrumental in getting the Texas Education Agency Commissioner to support Mariachi band competition in the University Interscholastic League (UIL). Joe understood that educational attainment was the key to economic success in this country and he passionately promoted the Texas and San Antonio Associations for Bilingual Education to advance equal educational opportunities.
Joe and Mary Esther were active in their church communities at St. Paul's and St. Luke's Catholic Churches. He also supported Mary Esther's 60 years of service at the San Fernando Cathedral developing and directing its music ministry. Joe's favorite saint was Saint Jude, the patron of impossible causes. Joe believed that serving the less fortunate members in the community was his Christian duty. He never forgot the prevalence of poverty in his barrio and fought for equal opportunities for all throughout his lifetime.
In 2014, the Northside ISD named a middle school in honor of Dr. Joe J Bernal. He regularly visited the campus and was extremely proud of the administration, faculty and students. He was especially proud for the dedication of a music wing at his school in honor of Mary Esther.
He was the loving husband of Mary Esther Bernal and father of Richard, Patrick (Elisa), Barney (deceased) and Rebecca (Robert). He had eight grandchildren – Bianca, deceased (Justin), George, Carlos (Priscilla), Gabriel, Robert Joseph (RJ), Ryan, Benjamin (Lauren) and Nathan - and seven great grandchildren – Brandon, Luke, Leo, Julia, Alexxander, Camerin and Macx. He is survived by his sister Celia Hernandez. He was predeceased by his wife of 65 years, Mary Esther, son Barney and granddaughter Bianca, along with his parents, Jose Maria and Antonia Juarez Bernal, brothers Edward, Alex, Arturo, Robert, Ramiro, Gilbert and sister Margie Paniagua.
With immense sorrow accompanied with much gratitude, we say goodbye to a once-in-a-generation leader, and honor a generous, compassionate, and talented Hijo del Barrio who truly contributed to a better world far beyond his Westside roots.
A rosary will be held on Wednesday, February 19th, at The Angelus Funeral Home at 6PM, with viewing starting at 5PM.
A Celebration of Life will commence at 8:45AM followed by Mass at San Fernando Cathedral on Thursday, February 20th, at 9:30AM, with burial at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery at 11:30AM.
Please consider a donation in his memory to the SAISD Foundation - Lanier Endowment Fund, 2411 San Pedro Dr, San Antonio, TX 78212, or online at SAISDfoundation.com.