Fernández, Antonio Manuel, 1902-1956
<p>Antonio Manuel Fernández (January 17, 1902 – November 7, 1956) was a United States Representative from New Mexico. He was born in Springer, New Mexico, where he attended the public schools, and Highlands University, Las Vegas, New Mexico. He received law training at Cumberland University, Lebanon, Tennessee, and was a court reporter for the eighth judicial district of New Mexico in 1925–1930. Later, he was admitted to the bar in 1931 and commenced practice in Raton, New Mexico. He was the assistant district attorney of the eighth judicial district in 1933 and practiced law in Santa Fe, New Mexico, in 1934.</p>
<p>Fernández served in the New Mexico House of Representatives in 1935. He was the chief tax attorney for the New Mexico Tax Commission in 1935 and 1936 and the first assistant attorney general in 1937–1941. He was a member of the first New Mexico Public Service Commission in 1941 and 1942 and was elected as a Democrat to the 78th and to the six succeeding Congresses and served from January 3, 1943, until his death. Fernández was the chairman, Committee on Memorials (Seventy-ninth Congress). He died after he had been reelected to the 85th congress in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on November 7, 1956, and was buried in Rosario Catholic Cemetery, Santa Fe, New Mexico.</p>
Citations
FERNÁNDEZ, Antonio M., a Representative from New Mexico; born in Springer, Colfax County, N.Mex., January 17, 1902; attended the public schools, and Highlands University, Las Vegas, N.Mex.; received law training at Cumberland University, Lebanon, Tenn.; court reporter for the eighth judicial district of New Mexico 1925-1930; was admitted to the bar in 1931 and commenced practice in Raton, Colfax County, N.Mex.; assistant district attorney of the eighth judicial district in 1933; practiced law in Santa Fe, N.Mex., in 1934; served in the State house of representatives in 1935; chief tax attorney for the State Tax Commission in 1935 and 1936; first assistant attorney general 1937-1941; member of the first New Mexico Public Service Commission in 1941 and 1942; elected as a Democrat to the Seventy-eighth and to the six succeeding Congresses and served from January 3, 1943, until his death; chairman, Committee on Memorials (Seventy-ninth Congress); had been reelected on November 6, 1956, to the Eighty-fifth Congress; died in Albuquerque, N.Mex., November 7, 1956; interment in Rosario Catholic Cemetery, Santa Fe.
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<p>Antonio M. Fernández rose from a modest background to become an influential and noteworthy politician. As New Mexico’s longest-serving Representative in the mid-20th century, he tirelessly defended his constituents. While concentrating on issues affecting the military and American Indians—two core groups in his At-Large district—he preferred to stay out of the limelight, focusing on compromise and diligent research. “Political leaders are necessary in our party system of Government,” Fernández once remarked, “but the men chosen by the people to serve in Congress can best do so if when elected they devote their time at their posts without too much regard for their own political fortunes, and certainly without attempting to direct and control the political fortunes of others.”</p>
<p>Antonio M. Fernández was born in Springer, in northwestern New Mexico, on January 17, 1902, to José Estevan and Maria Anita Fernández. Educated as a child in a one-room country schoolhouse, Fernández went on to attend New Mexico Normal University (now Highlands) in Las Vegas, New Mexico. After college, he married Cleofas Chavez on June 9, 1924. The couple had five children: Anita; Dolores; Antonio, Jr.; Orlando; and Manuel. Fernández worked in the office of a local judge and served as a court reporter in the Eighth Judicial District of New Mexico from 1925 to 1930. After earning a law degree at Cumberland University Law School in Lebanon, Tennessee, in 1931, Fernández was admitted to the bar in New Mexico and began practicing in Raton, New Mexico. He worked as an assistant district attorney of the Eighth Judicial District of New Mexico in 1933, and a year later he opened a law practice in Santa Fe. Before serving in the U.S. House, Fernández held a series of elected and appointed positions. In 1935 he represented Colfax County in the New Mexico house of representatives. As a state legislator, he introduced and shepherded the first Rural Electrification Authority Act to passage. After leaving office, Fernández was chief tax attorney for the New Mexico state tax commission before serving as assistant attorney general from 1937 to 1941. He then worked for the New Mexico public service commission in 1941 and 1942.</p>
<p>Reapportionment after the 1940 Census altered New Mexico’s political landscape when the state gained a second seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. Fernández’s legal background, political experience, and extensive public service attracted him to federal office, and in the 1943 Democratic primary, he joined four other contenders for the two At-Large seats. Incumbent Representative Clinton Anderson easily topped the field to secure the first House seat, while Fernández and New Mexico state corporation commissioner Robert Valdez battled for the second spot. Amid allegations of voter fraud and irregularities by both Fernández and Valdez, the New Mexico state canvassing board led an investigation that included several recounts in the disputed precincts. On October 7, 1942, nearly one month after the primary, the board ruled that Fernández had won the nomination by a slim 45-vote margin.</p>
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Name Entry: Fernández, Antonio Manuel, 1902-1956
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