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'''Oscar Manuel Laurel, Sr.''' (June 8, 1920 – March 29, 2001) (pronounced LAH RAIL), was an [[attorney]], [[business]]man, [[bank]]er, and [[Hispanic]] [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] [[politician]] from [[Laredo]], [[Texas]], whose legendary oratory excited his party's faithful.  

'''Oscar Manuel Laurel, Sr.''' (June 8, 1920 – March 29, 2001) (pronounced LAH RAIL), was an [[attorney]], [[business]]man, [[bank]]er, and [[Hispanic]] [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] [[politician]] from [[Laredo]], [[Texas]], whose legendary oratory excited his party's faithful.  

"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]], [[LULAC]] (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]], LULAC (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]

==Political career==

==Political career==

Laurel launched his own political career in 1956, with election to the Texas House of Representatives, in which he served for two terms for the 80th District. He joined Kika de la Grarza of Hidalgo County as the only two Hispanics in the Texas House from 1957 to 1959. In the House, Laurel also opposed a bill that would have made [[peyote]] an "unlawful dangerous substance".[1]

Laurel launched his own political career in 1956, with election to the Texas House of Representatives, in which he served for two terms for the 80th District. He joined Kika de la Grarza of Hidalgo County as the only two Hispanics in the Texas House from 1957 to 1959. In the House, Laurel also opposed a bill that would have made [[peyote]] an "unlawful dangerous substance".[1]

Laurel was also a rancher and a [[bank]]er. He and his son founded Falcon International Bank in Laredo, one of the largest Hispanic-owned banks in the nation.[1] He was affiliated with Rotary International and the Optimist Club, which he headed in Laredo from 1977 to 1978. He was a member of the National Foundation of Infantile Paralysis.[2]

Laurel was also a rancher and a [[bank]]er. He and his son founded Falcon International Bank in Laredo, one of the largest Hispanic-owned banks in the nation.[1] He was affiliated with Rotary International and the Optimist Club, which he headed in Laredo from 1977 to 1978. He was a member of the National Foundation of Infantile Paralysis.[2]

Laurel died of a lingering illness in a Laredo hospital. A funeral mass was held at St. Patrick's Catholic Church, and interment followed in the Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Laredo.[1]  

Laurel died of a lingering illness in a Laredo hospital. A funeral mass was held at St. Patrick's Catholic Church, and interment followed in the Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Laredo.[1]

He is honored with his bust in the lobby of the Webb County Courthouse in Laredo, along with that of a subsequent district attorney, [[Charles Borchers]], who served from 1973 to 1980.[5]

He is honored with his bust in the lobby of the Webb County Courthouse in Laredo, along with that of a subsequent district attorney, [[Charles Borchers]], who served from 1973 to 1980.[5]