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Created page with "{{Infobox officeholder | name=Mario Santos, Jr. | office= Sheriff of Webb County, Texas | term_start=January 1, 1977 | term_end=December 31, 1988 | predec..."
{{Infobox officeholder
| name=Mario Santos, Jr.
| office= [[Sheriff]] of [[Laredo|Webb County]], [[Texas]]
| term_start=January 1, 1977
| term_end=December 31, 1988
| predecessor=Porfirio Lauro Flores
| successor =Juan Garza
| birth_date=March 2, 1940
| birth_place=[[Laredo]], [[Texas]], [[United States|USA]]
| death_date=January 26, 2014 (aged 73)
| death_place=Laredo, Texas
| death_cause=Pulmonary fibrosis
| resting_place=
| nationality= [[Mexican-American]]
| party=[[Democratic Party|Democrat]]
| spouse =Sylvia Santos
| children=Judy Campos<br>
Maria Eugenia Perez<br>
Mario Santos, III<br>
Delfino P. Santos <br>
Elsa Yvette Santos<br>
'''Parents''':<br>
Mario, Sr., and Rosemary Moore Santos| residence=Laredo, Texas
| alma_mater=Martin High School (Laredo)<br>
Laredo Community College<br>
Texas A&M University–Kingsville<br>
[[FBI]] Academy
| occupation=Law-enforcement officer<br>[[Business]]man
| religion=[[Roman Catholic]]}}
'''Mario Santos, Jr.''' (March 2, 1940 – January 26, 2014)<ref>[http://www.joejacksonfuneralchapels.com/memsol.cgi?user_id=1225232]</ref><ref name=lmt>Philip Balli, "Former sheriff Santos dies", 'The Laredo Morning Times,'' January 28, 2014, pp, 1, 12A.</ref> was from 1977 to 1988 the [[sheriff]] of Webb County in South [[Texas]]. During his tenure, the county built its current jail and detention center.<ref name=obit>"Mario Santos, Jr.", ''Laredo Morning Times,'' January 29, 2014, p. 12A.</ref>
==Background==
A native of [[Laredo]], Santos was one of four children of Mario Santos, Sr., and the former Rosemary Moore, both of whom are deceased.<ref name=obit/> He graduated in 1959 from Martin High School in Laredo and obtained an Associate of Arts from Laredo Community College, then known as Laredo Junior College and currently named Laredo College. In 1963, he obtained a bachelor's degree in economics and a minor in history and government<ref name=rgarcia/> from the Kingsville campus of [[Texas A&M University]]. He became a probation officer, first for juveniles and then adults.<ref name=obit/> In 1963, he received an instructor's certificate from the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Education. In 1967, Santos attended the Juvenile Officers Institute at the [[University of Minnesota]].<ref name=rgarcia/>
==Political career==
In 1976, Santos upset in the [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] [[primary]] election veteran Sheriff Porfirio Lauro "P. L." Flores (1912-1993), the candidate of the then ruling Independent Club and the father-in-law of the subsequent [[district attorney]], [[Julio A. Garcia]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/wmiqt|title=Independent Club|publisher=[[Texas State Historical Association]]|accessdate=January 29, 2014}}</ref>Santos had been chief deputy under Sheriff Flores.<ref name=arambula/> Santos then faced no opposition in the [[general election]]. While he was sheriff, Santos graduated from the [[FBI]] Academy] at Quantico, [[Virginia]].<ref name=obit/>
After three four-year terms as sheriff, Santos himself was upset in the 1988 primary by another Democrat, Juan Garza, who held the office for four terms until his own defeat in 2004 by Ricardo "Rick" Flores.<ref name=arambula>{{cite web|url=http://madmax.lmtonline.com/textarchives/010305/s98.htm|title=Odie Arambula, Monday Wash: Newcomers, holdovers|publisher=''Laredo Morning Times''|accessdate=January 29, 2014}}</ref>
Santos' defeat is attributed to a failed attempt by inmates on February 3, 1986, to break out of the former jail while the new structure was still a few months from opening. The previous structure had been condemned by the Texas Jail Commission. The breakout attempt cost the life of a young jail guard, Jose Gerardo "Curly" Herrera<ref name=rgarcia/> (1963-1986), in whose honor an historical marker has been placed at the Webb County Courthouse.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.markeroni.com/catalog/display.php?code=TX_M_00009|title=Jose Gerardo "Curly" Herrera|publisher=markeroni.com|accessdate=January 29, 2014}}</ref>
In 2000, Santos failed in a bid to oust Garza, whom he claimed "failed to monitor expenditures and provide adequate supervision at all times. He has not implemented effective inventory controls and instilled professionalism in his department."<ref name=rgarcia/> Had he been returned to office, Santos said that he would have concentrated on establishing a civil service commission for the sheriff's department and the integration of law-enforcement initiatives with federal and state authorities, particularly in the war against [[narcotics]].<ref name=rgarcia>{{cite web|url=http://airwolf.lmtonline.com/news/archive/1001/pagea16.pdf|title=Robert Garcia, "Santos "(from Page 1A, 16A|date=October 1, 1999|publisher=''Laredo Morning Times''|accessdate=January 29, 2014}}</ref>
One of Santos' deputies was the current Webb County Sheriff Martin Cuellar, who also was employed for twenty-five years by the Texas Department of Public Safety.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.laredoisd.org/departments/tds/cabm.html|title=Martin Cuellar|publisher=laredoisd.org|accessdate=January 29, 2014}}</ref>Cuellar called Santos "a great leader with the sheriff's office."<ref name=lmt/>
==Later years==
After his time as sheriff ended, Santos was involved in [[real estate]], worked as a customs broker, raised [[horse]]s,<ref name=lmt/> and operated several amusement centers in South Texas. His business travels took him to [[Mexico]], [[South America]], [[Africa]], and [[Taiwan]].<ref name=obit/>Antonio Adolfo "Tony" Zardenetta, a retired judge of the 111th District Court who resided in [[San Antonio]], Texas recalls Santos as "quite a character in every sense. He had a strong personality. He was good-humored, but he was stern when he had to be."<ref name=lmt/>
Santos died at the age of seventy-three of pulmonary fibrosis in a Laredo hospital. He and his wife of fifty-six years, Sylvia Santos, had four children, Judy Campos and husband Juan, Maria Eugenia "Gigi" Perez and husband Victor, Mario Santos, III, and wife Rosa Isela Santos, and Delfino P. Santos. He also had another child out of wedlock, Elsa Yvette Santos. Memorial services were held on January 31, 2014, at Joe Jackson North Funeral Chapel in Laredo, with the [[Roman Catholic]] deacon, Joe Longoria, officiating.<ref name=obit/>
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Santos, Jr., Mario}}
[[Category:Texas]]
[[Category:Politicians]]
[[Category:Sheriffs]]
[[Category:Democrats]]
[[Category:Catholics]]
[[Category:Catholic Politicians]]
| name=Mario Santos, Jr.
| office= [[Sheriff]] of [[Laredo|Webb County]], [[Texas]]
| term_start=January 1, 1977
| term_end=December 31, 1988
| predecessor=Porfirio Lauro Flores
| successor =Juan Garza
| birth_date=March 2, 1940
| birth_place=[[Laredo]], [[Texas]], [[United States|USA]]
| death_date=January 26, 2014 (aged 73)
| death_place=Laredo, Texas
| death_cause=Pulmonary fibrosis
| resting_place=
| nationality= [[Mexican-American]]
| party=[[Democratic Party|Democrat]]
| spouse =Sylvia Santos
| children=Judy Campos<br>
Maria Eugenia Perez<br>
Mario Santos, III<br>
Delfino P. Santos <br>
Elsa Yvette Santos<br>
'''Parents''':<br>
Mario, Sr., and Rosemary Moore Santos| residence=Laredo, Texas
| alma_mater=Martin High School (Laredo)<br>
Laredo Community College<br>
Texas A&M University–Kingsville<br>
[[FBI]] Academy
| occupation=Law-enforcement officer<br>[[Business]]man
| religion=[[Roman Catholic]]}}
'''Mario Santos, Jr.''' (March 2, 1940 – January 26, 2014)<ref>[http://www.joejacksonfuneralchapels.com/memsol.cgi?user_id=1225232]</ref><ref name=lmt>Philip Balli, "Former sheriff Santos dies", 'The Laredo Morning Times,'' January 28, 2014, pp, 1, 12A.</ref> was from 1977 to 1988 the [[sheriff]] of Webb County in South [[Texas]]. During his tenure, the county built its current jail and detention center.<ref name=obit>"Mario Santos, Jr.", ''Laredo Morning Times,'' January 29, 2014, p. 12A.</ref>
==Background==
A native of [[Laredo]], Santos was one of four children of Mario Santos, Sr., and the former Rosemary Moore, both of whom are deceased.<ref name=obit/> He graduated in 1959 from Martin High School in Laredo and obtained an Associate of Arts from Laredo Community College, then known as Laredo Junior College and currently named Laredo College. In 1963, he obtained a bachelor's degree in economics and a minor in history and government<ref name=rgarcia/> from the Kingsville campus of [[Texas A&M University]]. He became a probation officer, first for juveniles and then adults.<ref name=obit/> In 1963, he received an instructor's certificate from the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Education. In 1967, Santos attended the Juvenile Officers Institute at the [[University of Minnesota]].<ref name=rgarcia/>
==Political career==
In 1976, Santos upset in the [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] [[primary]] election veteran Sheriff Porfirio Lauro "P. L." Flores (1912-1993), the candidate of the then ruling Independent Club and the father-in-law of the subsequent [[district attorney]], [[Julio A. Garcia]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/wmiqt|title=Independent Club|publisher=[[Texas State Historical Association]]|accessdate=January 29, 2014}}</ref>Santos had been chief deputy under Sheriff Flores.<ref name=arambula/> Santos then faced no opposition in the [[general election]]. While he was sheriff, Santos graduated from the [[FBI]] Academy] at Quantico, [[Virginia]].<ref name=obit/>
After three four-year terms as sheriff, Santos himself was upset in the 1988 primary by another Democrat, Juan Garza, who held the office for four terms until his own defeat in 2004 by Ricardo "Rick" Flores.<ref name=arambula>{{cite web|url=http://madmax.lmtonline.com/textarchives/010305/s98.htm|title=Odie Arambula, Monday Wash: Newcomers, holdovers|publisher=''Laredo Morning Times''|accessdate=January 29, 2014}}</ref>
Santos' defeat is attributed to a failed attempt by inmates on February 3, 1986, to break out of the former jail while the new structure was still a few months from opening. The previous structure had been condemned by the Texas Jail Commission. The breakout attempt cost the life of a young jail guard, Jose Gerardo "Curly" Herrera<ref name=rgarcia/> (1963-1986), in whose honor an historical marker has been placed at the Webb County Courthouse.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.markeroni.com/catalog/display.php?code=TX_M_00009|title=Jose Gerardo "Curly" Herrera|publisher=markeroni.com|accessdate=January 29, 2014}}</ref>
In 2000, Santos failed in a bid to oust Garza, whom he claimed "failed to monitor expenditures and provide adequate supervision at all times. He has not implemented effective inventory controls and instilled professionalism in his department."<ref name=rgarcia/> Had he been returned to office, Santos said that he would have concentrated on establishing a civil service commission for the sheriff's department and the integration of law-enforcement initiatives with federal and state authorities, particularly in the war against [[narcotics]].<ref name=rgarcia>{{cite web|url=http://airwolf.lmtonline.com/news/archive/1001/pagea16.pdf|title=Robert Garcia, "Santos "(from Page 1A, 16A|date=October 1, 1999|publisher=''Laredo Morning Times''|accessdate=January 29, 2014}}</ref>
One of Santos' deputies was the current Webb County Sheriff Martin Cuellar, who also was employed for twenty-five years by the Texas Department of Public Safety.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.laredoisd.org/departments/tds/cabm.html|title=Martin Cuellar|publisher=laredoisd.org|accessdate=January 29, 2014}}</ref>Cuellar called Santos "a great leader with the sheriff's office."<ref name=lmt/>
==Later years==
After his time as sheriff ended, Santos was involved in [[real estate]], worked as a customs broker, raised [[horse]]s,<ref name=lmt/> and operated several amusement centers in South Texas. His business travels took him to [[Mexico]], [[South America]], [[Africa]], and [[Taiwan]].<ref name=obit/>Antonio Adolfo "Tony" Zardenetta, a retired judge of the 111th District Court who resided in [[San Antonio]], Texas recalls Santos as "quite a character in every sense. He had a strong personality. He was good-humored, but he was stern when he had to be."<ref name=lmt/>
Santos died at the age of seventy-three of pulmonary fibrosis in a Laredo hospital. He and his wife of fifty-six years, Sylvia Santos, had four children, Judy Campos and husband Juan, Maria Eugenia "Gigi" Perez and husband Victor, Mario Santos, III, and wife Rosa Isela Santos, and Delfino P. Santos. He also had another child out of wedlock, Elsa Yvette Santos. Memorial services were held on January 31, 2014, at Joe Jackson North Funeral Chapel in Laredo, with the [[Roman Catholic]] deacon, Joe Longoria, officiating.<ref name=obit/>
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Santos, Jr., Mario}}
[[Category:Texas]]
[[Category:Politicians]]
[[Category:Sheriffs]]
[[Category:Democrats]]
[[Category:Catholics]]
[[Category:Catholic Politicians]]