Rabago, Maria Teresa

Maria Teresa Rabago (Terrie) was born in Edinburg, Texas, to Juan Rabago and Maria Elena Hinojosa. Raised in a close-knit family with seven siblings, Rabago graduated from Edinburg High School in 1970, and went on to attend Pan American University in Edinburg where she studied marketing. She later obtained a degree from the College of Liberal Arts at the University of Texas at Austin, with a concentration in Spanish.

After moving to Austin in 1980, Rabago held a series of professional positions, beginning with her job as Marking Information Coordinator at Execucom Systems (1980-1987), in which she marketed computer software to corporate executives and managers. She went on to work as an administrative assistant at the Spanish and Portuguese Department at the University of Texas (1987-1989) where her responsibilities included course scheduling, student registration and textbook liaison.

In 1990, Rabago obtained employment with the State Auditor's Office as a senior administrative assistant, before moving on to work in the same capacity at the Office of the State Comptroller from 1992 until her retirement in 2006. In addition to her service with the Comptroller's office, Rabago received her realtor's license in 1996, and her broker's license in 2006, the same year that she established the Rabago Realty Group, Inc. Rabago was also a freelance writer for The Austin Light, Texas Hispanic Magazine, Arriba, Art News, La Prensa and Good Life Magazine.

Little evidence of Rabago's personal life exists in her records. Rabago married her first husband, Gilbert Villarreal, Jr., in 1968, when she was seventeen years old. They divorced in 1974. She later married Austin artist Sam Coronado, Jr., in 1988; they divorced in 1991. Rabago had two daughters, Laura and Amber.

Rabago was a dedicated and involved member of the Austin Hispanic community, and worked with numerous organizations to advocate for equal employment and educational opportunities for disenfranchised groups, particularly young Latinas. She served on the boards of the Hispanic Women's Network of Texas, the Austin History Center, Court Appointed Special Advocate Association (CASA), served as the president of the Austin chapter of the Hispanic Women's Network, and was a community advisor for Kappa Delta Chi at The University of Texas at Austin. Because of her many contacts and involvement in multiple organizations, Rabago played a key role in organizing a coalition of Hispanic organizations and individuals to address the Austin Independent School District redistricting issue in 1991. Due to her tireless efforts on behalf of her community, Rabago was honored by the Texas Legislature with House Resolution No. 2173 and Senate Resolution No. 32 after her death on December 20, 2010.

From the guide to the Maria Teresa Rabago Papers AR. 2011. 027., 1980-2010, 1993-2002, (Austin History Center, Austin Public Library, )