Garcia was born in Zapata, Texas in 1934, and came to Austin in 1957 to attend the University of Texas, according to a 2012 interview with former school board member Paul Saldaña accessed via the Austin History Center. After becoming the first Hispanic person to have a practice as a certified professional accountant in Austin in 1964, Garcia was elected to the AISD board in 1972 and served as board president from 1977-78. In November 2001 he was elected mayor and served in that position until 2003, when he was succeeded by Will Wynn.
“Mayor Gus Garcia was an extraordinary public servant. All of us should strive to emulate Mayor Garcia’s dedication to Austin,” City Manager Spencer Cronk said in a statement.
On Dec. 17, Mayor Steve Adler shared a photo on Twitter with a message saying Garcia “focused our city as no one had setting us on a course to seek equity and justice for all of Austin.”
We feel a community-wide heavy heart as one of our greatest Austin giants moves on. Mayor Garcia focused our city as no one had setting us on a course to seek equity and justice for all of Austin. I will miss my friend and teacher. pic.twitter.com/a64uECbOJV
— Mayor Adler (@MayorAdler) December 17, 2018
According to the school district, Garcia was an advocate for equity in his role as trustee, encouraging the district to hire minority teachers and staff and to award construction projects to minority contractors.
Gus Garcia Young Men’s Leadership Academy, an East Austin middle school on Johnny Morris Road, is named for the career public servant, as is the Gus L. Garcia Recreation Center in North Austin on Rundberg Lane.
At a Dec. 17 press conference in front of Gus Garcia YMLA, which was named Gus Garcia Middle School until 2014 superintendent Paul Cruz was visibly emotional in his remembrance of "alcade" Garcia, the spanish word for mayor.
"When I first received the news Mr. Garcia passed away, there was a lot of sadness but a lot of pride. And that pride was demonstrated to me again anytime I would drive up to the middle school, coming up Johnny Morris Road, to see Gus Garcia Middle School and now Gus Garcia Young Men’s Leadership Academy," Cruz said.
All AISD flags will fly at half mast in honor of Garcia. Gus Garcia YMLA Principal Sterlin McGruder recalled Garcia as a competitive and proud man.
"He left a legacy at our school. Our school is proud to be named after Gus Garcia," McGruder said.
He then led the students behind him in the school creed. In unison, the said "I look good. I feel good. I am a Gus Garcia man."
Garcia is survived by his wife of more than 60 years, Marina Gonzalez, and by their three sons and five grandchildren.
