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Louis, Sr., and Agnes V. Zaeske​

Louis, Sr., and Agnes V. Zaeske​

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'''Louis W. Zaeske, Jr.''' , known as '''Lou Zaeske''' (December 17, 1941 – August 30, 2011), was a mechanical [[engineer]] and a [[political activist]] from [[Bryan, Texas|Bryan]], [[Texas]]. In 1988, he founded the interest group, the American Ethnic Coalition, which lobbied unsuccessfully for [[English]]-only as the official language of the United States.​

'''Louis W. Zaeske, Jr.''' , known as '''Lou Zaeske''' (December 17, 1941 – August 30, 2011), was a mechanical [[engineer]] and a [[conservative]] political activist from [[Bryan, Texas|Bryan]], [[Texas]]. In 1988, he founded the interest group, the American Ethnic Coalition, which lobbied unsuccessfully for [[English]]-only as the official language of the United States.​

==Background==

==Background==

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==Czech heritage activist==

==Czech heritage activist==

Himself of [[Germany|German]] and [[Czech Republic|Czech]] descent, Zaeske was heavily involved in the promotion of Czech heritage groups.  He frequently made public presentations on the migration of the Czech peoples from Eastern Europe. For many years, Zaeske was the president of the Brazos Valley Czech Heritage Society in Bryan.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.czechheritage.org/CountyPages/brazosvalley.html |title=Brazos Valley Czech Heritage Society |publisher=czechheritage.org |accessdate=September 5, 2011 }}</ref>  Zaeske was a member of the Czech Educational Foundation of Texas, which has established chairs for Czech studies at TAMU, the [[University of Texas at Austin]] and the University of North Texas at Denton.

Himself of [[Germany|German]] and [[Czech Republic|Czech]] descent, Zaeske was heavily involved in the promotion of Czech heritage groups.  He frequently made public presentations on the migration of the Czech peoples from Eastern Europe. For many years, Zaeske was the president of the Brazos Valley Czech Heritage Society in Bryan.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.czechheritage.org/CountyPages/brazosvalley.html |title=Brazos Valley Czech Heritage Society |publisher=czechheritage.org |accessdate=September 5, 2011 }}</ref>  Zaeske was a member of the Czech Educational Foundation of Texas, which has established chairs for Czech studies at TAMU, the [[University of Texas at Austin]] and the University of North Texas at Denton.

<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ceft.us/presidentmsg.htm|title=Czech Educational Foundation of Texas|publisher=ceft.us|accessdate=September 5, 2011}}</ref>​

<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ceft.us/presidentmsg.htm|title=Czech Educational Foundation of Texas|publisher=ceft.us|accessdate=September 5, 2011}}</ref>​

He was also affiliated with the Burleson County's Czech Heritage Museum, and the Kolache Festival in Caldwell as well as the Texas Czech Heritage and Cultural Center<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.czechtexas.org/|title=Czech Heritage and Cultural Center|publisher=czechtexas.org|accessdate=September 5, 2011}}</ref> in La Grange, Texas.<ref name=obit>{{cite web|url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/theeagle/obituary.aspx?n=louis-w-zaeske-lou&pid=153387503&fhid=7600|title=Louis W. "Lou" Zaeske, Jr.|publisher=''The  Bryan-College Station Eagle''|accessdate=September 5, 2011}}</ref> Zaeske helped found the Texas Polka Music Museum in Schulenburg, Texas.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.texaspolkamuseum.com/contactus.html|title=Texas Polka Music Museum|publisher=texaspolkamuseum.com|accessdate=September 5, 2011}}</ref>​

He was also affiliated with the Burleson County's Czech Heritage Museum, and the Kolache Festival in Caldwell as well as the Texas Czech Heritage and Cultural Center<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.czechtexas.org/|title=Czech Heritage and Cultural Center|publisher=czechtexas.org|accessdate=September 5, 2011}}</ref> in La Grange, Texas.<ref name=obit>{{cite web|url=https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/bryan-tx/louis-zaeske-4798380|title=Louis W. "Lou" Zaeske, Jr.|publisher=''The  Bryan-College Station Eagle''|accessdate=March 20, 2020}}</ref> Zaeske helped found the Texas Polka Music Museum in Schulenburg, Texas.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.texaspolkamuseum.com/contactus.html|title=Texas Polka Music Museum|publisher=texaspolkamuseum.com|accessdate=September 5, 2011}}</ref>​

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==Political activities==

==Political activities==

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In 1990, Zaeske ran unsuccessfully as a [[Republican Party|Republican]] for the Texas State Senate because the [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] incumbent in Senate District 5, Kent Caperton, refused to support Official English.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hI7kG1x237kC&pg=PA160&lpg=PA160&dq=Kae+T+Patrick&source=bl&ots=cLtrlly_L-&sig=XL6IyQMTXsqjNGO0clpb7M0fsaI&hl=en&sa=X&ei=HWbmVIGABYefgwTfuoCYBQ&ved=0CCMQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=Kae%20T%20Patrick&f=false|title=Nativism Reborn?: The Official English Language Movement and the American States|author=Raymond Tatalovich|publisher=[[University of Kentucky]] Press|location=[[Lexington, Kentucky]]|page=166|accessdate=February 19, 2015}}</ref>Caperton, however, decided not seek reelection,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lrl.state.tx.us/legeLeaders/members/memberdisplay.cfm?memberID=319|title=http://www.lrl.state.tx.us/legeLeaders/members/memberdisplay.cfm?memberID=319|title=Legislative Reference Library of Texas: Kent A. Caperton|publisher=lrl.state.tx.us|accessdate=March 20, 2020}}</ref> and the Democrat James W. "Jim" Turner, subsequently elected in 1996 as a [[U.S. Representative]], defeated Zaeske for the seat.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lrl.state.tx.us/legeLeaders/members/memberDisplay.cfm?memberID=57&searchparams=chamber=S~city=~countyID=0~district=5~first=~gender=~last=~leaderNote=~leg=72~party=Democrat~roleDesc=~Committee=|title=Jim Turner|publisher=Legislative Reference Library of Texas: Jim Turner|accessdate=September 5, 2011}}</ref>​The American Ethnic Coalition claimed that twenty-three members of the state legislature and four U.S. Representatives from Texas, all of whom  were elected with coalition backing and took office in 1989, were committed to Officlal English. Zaeske's organization called for abolition of the printing of literature in [[Spain|Spanish]] by the Texas Workforce Commission and allowing public school districts to reject [[bilingual education]] programs. Zaeske also urged that Texas Comptroller Robert Douglas "Bob" Bullock, Sr. (1929-1999)  be required to report to the legislature on taxpayer costs of bilingual programs and that [state Attorney General James Albon "Jim" Mattox (1943-2008) rule on the constitutionality of such measures. Zaeske's coalition proposed that foreign instructors in Texas public colleges. many of whom teach basic courses at universities, be required to pass an English proficiency examination. Zaeske spoke against a Texas law that permits lower tuition for students from Mexico who attend Texas public colleges: "We really can't understand why the citizens of this state should be required to underwrite foreigners going to school here when many of the children of citizens of this state are unable to go to college here because of not being able to pay the tuition."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl/1988_583490/english-backer-cites-supporters-advocate-plans-to.html|title=English backer cites supporters/Advocate plans to run for office|date=November 12, 1988|publisher=''The Houston Chronicle''|accessdate=September 5, 2011; material no longer on-line}}</ref>

In 1990, Zaeske ran unsuccessfully as a [[Republican Party|Republican]] for the Texas State Senate because the [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] incumbent in Senate District 5, Kent Caperton, refused to support Official English.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hI7kG1x237kC&pg=PA160&lpg=PA160&dq=Kae+T+Patrick&source=bl&ots=cLtrlly_L-&sig=XL6IyQMTXsqjNGO0clpb7M0fsaI&hl=en&sa=X&ei=HWbmVIGABYefgwTfuoCYBQ&ved=0CCMQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=Kae%20T%20Patrick&f=false|title=Nativism Reborn?: The Official English Language Movement and the American States|author=Raymond Tatalovich|publisher=[[University of Kentucky]] Press|location=[[Lexington, Kentucky]]|page=166|accessdate=February 19, 2015}}</ref>Caperton, however, decided not seek reelection,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lrl.state.tx.us/legeLeaders/members/memberdisplay.cfm?memberID=319|title=http://www.lrl.state.tx.us/legeLeaders/members/memberdisplay.cfm?memberID=319|title=Legislative Reference Library of Texas: Kent A. Caperton|publisher=lrl.state.tx.us|accessdate=March 20, 2020}}</ref> and the Democrat James W. "Jim" Turner, subsequently elected in 1996 as a [[U.S. Representative]], defeated Zaeske for the seat.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lrl.state.tx.us/legeLeaders/members/memberDisplay.cfm?memberID=57&searchparams=chamber=S~city=~countyID=0~district=5~first=~gender=~last=~leaderNote=~leg=72~party=Democrat~roleDesc=~Committee=|title=Jim Turner|publisher=Legislative Reference Library of Texas: Jim Turner|accessdate=September 5, 2011}}</ref>

 

​The American Ethnic Coalition claimed that twenty-three members of the state legislature and four U.S. Representatives from Texas, all of whom  were elected with coalition backing and took office in 1989, were committed to Officlal English. Zaeske's organization called for abolition of the printing of literature in [[Spain|Spanish]] by the Texas Workforce Commission and allowing public school districts to reject [[bilingual education]] programs. Zaeske also urged that Texas Comptroller Robert Douglas "Bob" Bullock, Sr. (1929-1999)  be required to report to the legislature on taxpayer costs of bilingual programs and that [state Attorney General James Albon "Jim" Mattox (1943-2008) rule on the constitutionality of such measures. Zaeske's coalition proposed that foreign instructors in Texas public colleges. many of whom teach basic courses at universities, be required to pass an English proficiency examination. Zaeske spoke against a Texas law that permits lower tuition for students from Mexico who attend Texas public colleges: "We really can't understand why the citizens of this state should be required to underwrite foreigners going to school here when many of the children of citizens of this state are unable to go to college here because of not being able to pay the tuition."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl/1988_583490/english-backer-cites-supporters-advocate-plans-to.html|title=English backer cites supporters/Advocate plans to run for office|date=November 12, 1988|publisher=''The Houston Chronicle''|accessdate=September 5, 2011; material no longer on-line}}</ref>

In 1992, Zaeske supported [[Patrick J. Buchanan]]'s unsuccessful insurgent challenge to the re-nomination of [[U.S. President]] [[George Herbert Walker Bush]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.city-data.com/elec2/elec-BRYAN-TX.html|title=Bryan, Texas (TX) Political Contributions by Individuals|publisher=city-data.com|accessdate=September 8, 2011}}</ref> In 1993, Zaeske ran as an [[Independent voter|Independent]] in a [[special election]] for the [[United States Senate]] seat vacated by incoming [[United States Secretary of the Treasury]] [[Lloyd Bentsen]]. He polled barely 2,000 votes. The election was handily won in a [runoff by the [[Moderate Republican]] state treasurer [[Kay Bailey Hutchison]].<ref>Texas Secretary of State, Election Returns, Special election for U.S. Senate, May 1, 1993.</ref>

In 1992, Zaeske supported [[Patrick J. Buchanan]]'s unsuccessful insurgent challenge to the re-nomination of [[U.S. President]] [[George Herbert Walker Bush]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.city-data.com/elec2/elec-BRYAN-TX.html|title=Bryan, Texas (TX) Political Contributions by Individuals|publisher=city-data.com|accessdate=September 8, 2011}}</ref> In 1993, Zaeske ran as an [[Independent voter|Independent]] in a [[special election]] for the [[United States Senate]] seat vacated by incoming [[United States Secretary of the Treasury]] [[Lloyd Bentsen]]. He polled barely 2,000 votes. The election was handily won in a [runoff by the [[Moderate Republican]] state treasurer [[Kay Bailey Hutchison]].<ref>Texas Secretary of State, Election Returns, Special election for U.S. Senate, May 1, 1993.</ref>