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Tony Garza

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Tony Garza
United States Ambassador to Mexico
In office
November 22, 2002 – January 20, 2009
PresidentGeorge W. Bush
Preceded byJeffrey Davidow
Succeeded byCarlos Pascual
Railroad Commissioner of Texas
In office
January 4, 1999 – November 18, 2002[1]
GovernorGeorge W. Bush
Rick Perry
Preceded byBarry Williamson
Succeeded byVictor Carrillo
98thSecretary of State of Texas
In office
January 17, 1995 – December 31, 1997
GovernorGeorge W. Bush
Preceded byRon Kirk
Succeeded byAlberto Gonzales
Personal details
Born
Antonio Oscar Garza Jr.

(1959-07-07)July 7, 1959(age 65)
Brownsville, Texas,U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouse(s)
​
​
(m.2005;div.2010)​

Liz Beightler
​
(m.2012)​
EducationUniversity of Texas at Austin(BA)
Southern Methodist University(JD)

Antonio Oscar "Tony" Garza Jr.(born July 7, 1959)[2]is an Americanlawyerand diplomat who was theUnited StatesAmbassadortoMexicofrom 2002 to 2009 under PresidentGeorge W. Bush.In recognition of his work, Mexico bestowed on him theÁguila Azteca,the highest award granted to foreigners, in 2009. Prior to his appointment as ambassador, Garza had served asSecretary of State of Texasfrom January 1995 to November 1997 and was also chairman of theTexas Railroad Commission.

Early life and education

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Garza was born inBrownsville, Texas,[3]the son of a gasoline station owner and the grandson of Mexican immigrants to the United States.[4][5]Garza received hisBachelor of Business Administrationfrom theUniversity of Texas at Austinin 1980 and received his Doctor of Jurisprudence in 1983 fromSouthern Methodist University School of Law.[6]

Career

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After practicing as an attorney, Garza became a judge in Cameron County in 1988.[7]He served as the Texas Secretary of State from January 1995 to November 1997 before later being elected as one of the three member board of the Texas Railroad Commission, where he served as chairman.[5][4][8]

In 2002, he was appointed U.S. Ambassador to Mexico, a position he held until 2009.[5][4]In 2009, the year he retired from the office, Garza received the Águila Azteca from Mexico in recognition of his work to strengthen the bonds between Mexico and the United States.[7]This is the highest award that Mexico bestows on foreigners. Thereafter, he took a position as counsel withWhite & Case LLPand also as chairman of management consultancy firmVianovo Ventures.[8][7]

Personal life

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Garza marriedMaría Asunción Aramburuzabala,the president of Tresalia Capital who had a personal fortune valued at $1.8 billion, according to one source.[9]The couple divorced in May 2010.[10]He subsequently married Dr Liz Beightler.[11]

References

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  1. ^"Railroad Commissioners Past through Present".www.rrc.texas.gov.RetrievedApril 3,2024.
  2. ^Antonio Oscar Garza Jr., Texas Birth Index
  3. ^Clark, Steve (November 17, 2019)."RGV native inducted into UT hall of fame".The Brownsville Herald.RetrievedSeptember 21,2021.
  4. ^abc"Toasting the power of love",Houston Chronicle,April 22, 2005.
  5. ^abc"Bush selects Texas ally, Garza, as U.S. ambassador to Mexico".Lubbock Avalanche-Journal.July 17, 2002.RetrievedApril 29,2013.
  6. ^"Antonio O. Garza Jr".White & Case LLP. 2010.RetrievedApril 4,2011.
  7. ^abcPerez-Trevino, Emma (July 18, 2009)."Tony Garza plans for future beyond public office".The Brownsville Herald.RetrievedMay 7,2013.
  8. ^abGibbes, Rodney (May 6, 2013)."TribLive: A Conversation with Tony Garza".Texas Tribune.RetrievedMay 7,2013.
  9. ^Laura Bush to attend Mexican beer baroness' wedding to US diplomat: reportAFP
  10. ^Aramburuzabala y Garza se divorcian(in Spanish)
  11. ^"About Antonio Garza".TonyGarza.com. 2014.RetrievedDecember 23,2014.
[edit]
Political offices
Preceded by Secretary of State of Texas
1995–1997 		Succeeded by
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by United States Ambassador to Mexico
2002–2009 		Succeeded by
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