Roy Ramiro Barrera Sr., a San Antonio native who served as Texas Secretary of State in the late 1960s, has died.
SAN ANTONIO — Roy Ramiro Barrera Sr., a San Antonio attorney who made history as the first Hispanic to serve as Texas Secretary of State, has died. He was 99.
Barrera was born January 30, 1927, in San Antonio and later attended St. Mary’s University, where he studied before beginning a legal and public service career.
In 1968, Barrera was sworn in as Texas Secretary of State, becoming the first Hispanic to hold the position. He took the oath of office on March 12, 1968, administered by then-John Connally.
Barrera served in the role until 1969, overseeing state elections and representing Texas during HemisFair ’68, the international exposition held in San Antonio that celebrated the city’s cultural heritage and growth.
As secretary of state, Barrera held a key position in Texas government, serving as the state’s chief elections officer and helping maintain official state records.
Family members and community leaders remember Barrera as a proud San Antonian whose career in law and government reflected a commitment to public service.
Details about memorial services have not yet been released.