Leo was born in Mission, Texas on 14 March 1917. Early in his life the family moved to La Joya. In 1937 he received his teaching certificate from the Texas A&I University. His first teaching assignment was in Zapata, Texas where he met Feliz Bustamante, whom he married on 26 May 1940. After the war they moved back to La Joya. He served as mayor from 1965 to 1979.
Political leader from La Joya, Texas and advocate for the poor Leo James Leo championed many Mexican-American causes. He was involved in both local and statewide politics. Leo served on the boards of directors of many Great Society poverty programs, such as the Associated City and County Economic Corporation, helping the poor with food, job assistance, housing, and medical help. He was often involved in controversy because of his forthright defense of these programs. In 1960 Leo and other Mexican-American political leaders organized the Political Association of Spanish Speaking Organizations (PASSO). Leo chaired the 1,000 member Hidalgo chapter of PASSO, the largest in the state. He also formed the Hidalgo County Political League, an association of liberal Anglo-American and Mexican-American Democrats, in the late 1960s. In addition, he assisted with summer youth programs and helped file citizenship papers for many Mexican immigrants. Leo James Leo died in McAllen, Texas on 14 July 1981.
From the guide to the Leo James Leo Collection 1984-21. 22945887., ca. 1960-1985, (Benson Latin American Collection, The University of Texas at Austin)
