Gutiérrez, José Angel,

José Angel Gutierrez was born Oct. 25, 1944, in Crystal City, Texas. An activist, educator, organizer, and lawyer, Gutierrez co-founded the La Raza Unida Party and played many leadership roles in the early Chicano civil rights movement. He served as President of the Crystal City Independent School District Board in the early 1970s and as a County Judge for Zavala County, Tex. (1975-1980). In the 1980s, Gutierrez pursued a teaching career and moved to Oregon where he taught at Colegio Cesar Chavez and at Western Oregon State. While living in Oregon, Gutierrez ran unsuccessfully for the state legislature and was involved with numerous human rights and social service organizations. In 1986, Gutierrez returned to Texas and later began practicing law in Dallas.

Political activist, elected official, and writer.

Born Oct. 25, 1944, in Crystal City, Texas. Graduated from Crystal City High School (1962), Texas A. & I. (B.A., 1966), St. Mary's Univ. in San Antonio (M.A., 1968), and the Univ. of Texas at Austin (PhD., 1976). Founder or co-founder of several Chicano organizations in the 1960s and 1970s, including M.A.Y.O. and the Raza Unida Party. Involved in the political takeover of Crystal City's government by its Mexican American majority, Gutiérrez was elected president of the school board in 1970 and County Judge in 1974. His administrative style and radical politics made him a controversial figure within and outside the community; in 1981 he resigned his post as judge to take up college teaching. Later received a law degree from the University of Houston and practiced law in Dallas. Has worked as a labor organizer, a businessman, and as an administrator of public and private agencies.