Bustamante, Albert G. (Albert Garza), 1935-

Albert Garza Bustamante (born April 8, 1935) is an American teacher, legislative aide, and politician. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as a member of the United States House of Representatives, representing Texas's 23rd district from 1985 to 1993. Bustamante was a one-time Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.

Born and raised in Asherton, Texas, he began school at the age of nine, unable to read or speak English. Hampered by this late start, Bustamante struggled academically, but managed to graduate from Asherton High School in 1954. He joined the U.S. Army that same year, serving as a paratrooper until 1956. Bustamante attended San Antonio College from 1956 to 1958 before transferring to Sul Ross State College in Alpine, Texas. Financing his final semester of education with a $250 loan from a school janitor, he graduated with a degree in secondary education in 1961. Bustamante taught at Cooper Junior High School in San Antonio and coached football and basketball for seven years. In 1968 Bustamante got his start in politics as a constituent aide in the San Antonio-based district office of U.S. Representative Henry González. He worked there for three years. In his first run for elective office in 1972, Bustamante was elected as a Bexar County, Texas, Commissioner. He then was elected as a county judge in 1978 and served on the state's Jail Standard Commission.

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