Changes

==Background==

==Background==

Flores was born in Laredo to Eloy Garcia, Sr. (1923–1998), a businessman, and the former Bonnie Lopez (1919–2012), originally a beautician.<ref name=blgobit>Bonnie L. Lopez obituary, ''The Laredo Morning Times,'' February 18, 2012.</ref> Betty Flores was reared in the "Heights" neighborhood of mid Laredo. One of her neighbors was Mayor [[J. C.  "Pepe" Martin, Jr.]], who served from 1954 to 1978, whom she says taught her loyalty from a young age. Her father was for many years a member of the elected Laredo College board of trustees and a [[philanthropist]] who gave generously to the institution, which named a building after him. Eloy Garcia gave Betty her first dollar when she was a little girl and her first campaign check when she decided to run for mayor. He lived barely long enough to see her elected. He went to cast his vote in an ambulance refusing to vote at the hospital. Eloy and Bonnie Garcia were in partnership with their children in the E. G. Ranch Partnership. Her mother donated the land for what became the Bonnie L. Garcia Elementary School in the United Independent School District in Laredo.<ref name=blgobit/>​

Flores was born in Laredo to Eloy Garcia, Sr. (1923–1998), a businessman, and the former Bonnie Lopez (1919–2012), originally a beautician.<ref name=blgobit>Bonnie L. Lopez obituary, ''The Laredo Morning Times,'' February 18, 2012.</ref> Betty Flores was reared in the "Heights" neighborhood of mid Laredo. One of her neighbors was Mayor [[J. C.  Martin, Jr.]], known as '''Pepe Martin,''' who served from 1954 to 1978, whom she says taught her loyalty from a young age. Her father was for many years a member of the elected Laredo College board of trustees and a [[philanthropist]] who gave generously to the institution, which named a building after him. Eloy Garcia gave Betty her first dollar when she was a little girl and her first campaign check when she decided to run for mayor. He lived barely long enough to see her elected. He went to cast his vote in an ambulance refusing to vote at the hospital. Eloy and Bonnie Garcia were in partnership with their children in the E. G. Ranch Partnership. Her mother donated the land for what became the Bonnie L. Garcia Elementary School in the United Independent School District in Laredo.<ref name=blgobit/>​

​

​

In 1962, Betty Garcia married Antonio "Toño" Flores, a son of the late Daniel Flores, Sr., and Simona Alicia Flores. His older brother, Dan Flores, Jr. (c. 1937-2016), was a [[United States Army]] second lieutenant who served two tours in the [[Vietnam War]] and thereafter was named the chief financial officer at Laredo College, from which he retired in 2009 under the presidency of Juan Leandro Maldonado (1948-2018).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lmtonline.com/obituaries/article_a73b952a-0e30-11e6-aeef-334b6b1efc9a.html|title=Daniel Flores, Jr.|date=April 29, 2016|publisher=''The Laredo Morning Times''|accessdate=May 2, 2016}}</ref>​

In 1962, Betty Garcia married Antonio "Toño" Flores, a son of the late Daniel Flores, Sr., and Simona Alicia Flores. His older brother, Dan Flores, Jr. (c. 1937-2016), was a [[United States Army]] second lieutenant who served two tours in the [[Vietnam War]] and thereafter was named the chief financial officer at Laredo College, from which he retired in 2009 under the presidency of Juan Leandro Maldonado (1948-2018).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lmtonline.com/obituaries/article_a73b952a-0e30-11e6-aeef-334b6b1efc9a.html|title=Daniel Flores, Jr.|date=April 29, 2016|publisher=''The Laredo Morning Times''|accessdate=May 2, 2016}}</ref>​