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Tony Garza

Tony Garza
United States Ambassador to Mexico
In office
November 22, 2002 – January 20, 2009
PresidentGeorge W. Bush
Preceded byJeffrey Davidow
Succeeded byCarlos Pascual
Railroad Commissioner of Texas
In office
January 4, 1999 – November 18, 2002[1]
GovernorGeorge W. Bush
Rick Perry
Preceded byBarry Williamson
Succeeded byVictor Carrillo
98th Secretary of State of Texas
In office
January 17, 1995 – December 31, 1997
GovernorGeorge W. Bush
Preceded byRon Kirk
Succeeded byAlberto Gonzales
Personal details
Born
Antonio Oscar Garza Jr.

(1959-07-07) July 7, 1959 (age 65)
Brownsville, Texas, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouse(s)
​
​
(m. 2005; div. 2010)​

Liz Beightler
​
(m. 2012)​
EducationUniversity of Texas at Austin (BA)
Southern Methodist University (JD)

Antonio Oscar "Tony" Garza Jr. (born July 7, 1959)[2] is an American lawyer and diplomat who was the United States Ambassador to Mexico from 2002 to 2009 under President George W. Bush. In recognition of his work, Mexico bestowed on him the Águila Azteca, the highest award granted to foreigners, in 2009. Prior to his appointment as ambassador, Garza had served as Secretary of State of Texas from January 1995 to November 1997 and was also chairman of the Texas Railroad Commission.

Early life and education

Garza was born in Brownsville, Texas,[3] the son of a gasoline station owner and the grandson of Mexican immigrants to the United States.[4][5] Garza received his Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Texas at Austin in 1980 and received his Doctor of Jurisprudence in 1983 from Southern Methodist University School of Law.[6]

Career

After practicing as an attorney, Garza became a judge in Cameron County in 1988.[7] He served as the Texas Secretary of State from January 1995 to November 1997 before later being elected as one of the three member board of the Texas Railroad Commission, where he served as chairman.[5][4][8]

In 2002, he was appointed U.S. Ambassador to Mexico, a position he held until 2009.[5][4] In 2009, the year he retired from the office, Garza received the Águila Azteca from Mexico in recognition of his work to strengthen the bonds between Mexico and the United States.[7] This is the highest award that Mexico bestows on foreigners. Thereafter, he took a position as counsel with White & Case LLP and also as chairman of management consultancy firm Vianovo Ventures.[8][7]

Personal life

Garza married María Asunción Aramburuzabala, the president of Tresalia Capital who had a personal fortune valued at $1.8 billion, according to one source.[9] The couple divorced in May 2010.[10] He subsequently married Dr Liz Beightler.[11]

References

  1. ^ "Railroad Commissioners Past through Present". www.rrc.texas.gov. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
  2. ^ Antonio Oscar Garza Jr., Texas Birth Index
  3. ^ Clark, Steve (November 17, 2019). "RGV native inducted into UT hall of fame". The Brownsville Herald. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
  4. ^ a b c "Toasting the power of love", Houston Chronicle, April 22, 2005.
  5. ^ a b c "Bush selects Texas ally, Garza, as U.S. ambassador to Mexico". Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. July 17, 2002. Retrieved April 29, 2013.
  6. ^ "Antonio O. Garza Jr". White & Case LLP. 2010. Retrieved April 4, 2011.
  7. ^ a b c Perez-Trevino, Emma (July 18, 2009). "Tony Garza plans for future beyond public office". The Brownsville Herald. Retrieved May 7, 2013.
  8. ^ a b Gibbes, Rodney (May 6, 2013). "TribLive: A Conversation with Tony Garza". Texas Tribune. Retrieved May 7, 2013.
  9. ^ Laura Bush to attend Mexican beer baroness' wedding to US diplomat: report AFP
  10. ^ Aramburuzabala y Garza se divorcian (in Spanish)
  11. ^ "About Antonio Garza". TonyGarza.com. 2014. Retrieved December 23, 2014.
Political offices
Preceded by Secretary of State of Texas
1995–1997 		Succeeded by
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by United States Ambassador to Mexico
2002–2009 		Succeeded by
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