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| name=Oscar Manuel Laurel, Sr.
| name=Oscar Manuel Laurel, Sr.
|nationality=[[Mexico|Mexican]]-[[United States|American]]
|nationality=[[Mexico|Mexican]]-[[United States|American]]
| office=[[Texas]] State Representative for District 80
| office=[[Texas]] State Representative<br>for District 80
| party=[[Democratic Party|Democrat]]
| party=[[Democratic Party|Democrat]]
| term_start=1957
| term_start=1957
"He had a great talent for words," said Hector Garcia, a former Laurel business partner. Vidal Manuel Treviño (1929-2006), a late superintendent of the Laredo Independent School District, agreed. Trevino called Laurel "the best orator we have ever had."[1] Laurel was one of five Laredoans to have served as president of the Hispanic [[interest group]], the [[League of United Latin American Citizens]], having headed the organization for 1955 to 1956.[2]
"He had a great talent for words," said Hector Garcia, a former Laurel business partner. Vidal Manuel Treviño (1929-2006), a late superintendent of the Laredo Independent School District, agreed. Trevino called Laurel "the best orator we have ever had."[1] Laurel was one of five Laredoans to have served as president of the Hispanic [[interest group]], the [[League of United Latin American Citizens]], having headed the organization for 1955 to 1956.[2]
==Background==
==Background==
Laurel was born in heavily Hispanic and Democratic Laredo, in south Texas. He graduated in 1937 from Martin High School. He wed the former Elsa Gonzalez, who was a descendant from one of the founders of Laredo.[1] The couple had a son and a daughter.
Laurel was born in heavily Hispanic and Democratic Laredo, in south Texas. He graduated in 1937 from Martin High School. He wed the former Elsa Gonzalez, who was a descendant from one of the founders of Laredo.[1] The couple had a son and a daughter.
Laurel graduated from the [[Roman Catholic]]-affiliated Loyola University [[New Orleans]].[3] He then entered the [[United States Army]] Air Corps, in which he served from 1941 to 1945. He was an airplane mechanic on B-17s and B-29s and attained the rank of staff sergeant. After military service in [[World War II]], Laurel enrolled in a pre-law curriculum at the [[University of Texas at Austin]]. He then completed his legal studies at the South Texas College of Law in [[Houston, Texas|Houston]]. In 1948, he opened his law practice in Laredo.[2]
Laurel graduated from the [[Roman Catholic]]-affiliated Loyola University [[New Orleans]].[3] He then entered the [[United States Army]] Air Corps, in which he served from 1941 to 1945. He was an airplane mechanic on B-17s and B-29s and attained the rank of staff sergeant. After military service in [[World War II]], Laurel enrolled in a pre-law curriculum at the [[University of Texas at Austin]]. He then completed his legal studies at the South Texas College of Law in [[Houston, Texas|Houston]]. In 1948, he opened his law practice in Laredo.[2]