Gregory Luna
Encyclopedia
Gregorio “Gregory” Luna
was a San Antonio, Texas
politician who served as a Democrat in both the Texas House of Representatives
and the Texas Senate
for the 14 years from 1985 to 1999. While in the legislature, Luna was considered to be a “champion of education”. He was also one of the founders of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund
, and served four terms as board chair.
, the youngest of their eight children. When Gregory was seven months old, Eliseo Luna died and, shortly afterward, the family moved to San Antonio. While growing up, Luna worked as a restaurant bus boy, a grocery-store sacker and in the mailroom at the San Antonio Express
.
At 21, after attending San Antonio College
briefly, Luna enlisted in the United States Army
and served a short stint, advancing to the rank of corporal. After his service, he joined the San Antonio Police Department. While an officer, Luna attended night classes and graduated from Trinity University
with a Bachelor of Arts
in math and St. Mary's University School of Law
with a law degree. While an officer, Luna also helped train police officers in Venezuela
as part of a U.S.
government program. Luna began his law career as a prosecutor for the City of San Antonio, and opened a started a private law practice in 1968.
Luna married Helen Garcia 21 August 1955 and had two sons and two daughters.
in Bexar County
. In 1982, he ran for the District 116 Texas House seat, losing to Joe A. Gamez in the Democratic Party primary election. In 1984, Luna sought the same House seat again, this time successfully. He represented San Antonio from 1985 to 1993 in the Texas House.
In 1992, when then-state Senator Frank Tejeda
opted to make a run for U.S. Congress
, Luna sought Tejeda's senate seat in District 19
. He defeated the Republican challenger, auto dealer Ernesto Ancira for the four-year term.
A Democratic redistricting plan (which also altered district numbering) necessitated all state senators to run for reelection in 1994, and as a result, Luna faced an unsuccessful challenge from Republican Andrew Longaker for the remaining two years of his term, this time in District 26
. In 1996, Luna again fended off a challenge from Longaker, this time for a four-year term.
Luna missed most of the regular session of the 76th Legislature
due to ill health. He was ailing from complications related to diabetes, which eventually required the amputation of both his legs. Citing his ill health, Luna resigned his senate seat on 24 September 1999. Luna died peacefully after midnight 6 November 1999 at a hospice inpatient center in San Antonio, where he had been for three weeks. He was buried in the Texas State Cemetery
on 9 November 1999.
Luna is honored by the Texas Senate Hispanic Research Council through the Senator Gregory Luna Legislative Scholar and Fellows Program which places college students with members of the Texas Senate to gain leadership experience.
was a San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
politician who served as a Democrat in both the Texas House of Representatives
Texas House of Representatives
The Texas House of Representatives is the lower house of the Texas Legislature. The House is composed of 150 members elected from single-member districts across the state. The average district has about 150,000 people. Representatives are elected to two-year terms with no term limits...
and the Texas Senate
Texas Senate
The Texas Senate is the upper house of the Texas Legislature. There are 31 members of the Senate, representing 31 single-member districts across the state with populations of approximately 672,000 per constituency. There are no term limits, and each term is four years long. The Senate meets at the...
for the 14 years from 1985 to 1999. While in the legislature, Luna was considered to be a “champion of education”. He was also one of the founders of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund
Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund
The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund is a national non-profit civil rights organization formed in 1968 to protect the rights of Latinos in the United States...
, and served four terms as board chair.
Early life
Luna was born to Eliseo and Elvira Luna in New Braunfels, TexasNew Braunfels, Texas
New Braunfels is a city in Comal and Guadalupe counties in the U.S. state of Texas that is a principal city of the metropolitan area. Braunfels means "brown rock" in German; the city is named for Braunfels, in Germany. The city's population was 57,740 as of the 2010 census, up 58% from the 2000...
, the youngest of their eight children. When Gregory was seven months old, Eliseo Luna died and, shortly afterward, the family moved to San Antonio. While growing up, Luna worked as a restaurant bus boy, a grocery-store sacker and in the mailroom at the San Antonio Express
San Antonio Express-News
The San Antonio Express-News is the daily newspaper of San Antonio, Texas. It is ranked as the third-largest daily newspaper in the state of Texas in terms of circulation, and is one of the leading news sources of South Texas, with offices in Austin, Brownsville, Laredo, and Mexico City...
.
At 21, after attending San Antonio College
San Antonio College
San Antonio College is a community college that is a part of the Alamo Community College District. It is located on San Pedro Avenue, across from San Pedro Park, near downtown San Antonio. SAC is the oldest public two-year college in Texas...
briefly, Luna enlisted in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
and served a short stint, advancing to the rank of corporal. After his service, he joined the San Antonio Police Department. While an officer, Luna attended night classes and graduated from Trinity University
Trinity University (Texas)
Trinity University is a private, independent, primarily undergraduate, university in San Antonio, Texas. Its campus is located in the Monte Vista Historic District and adjacent to Brackenridge Park....
with a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in math and St. Mary's University School of Law
St. Mary's University School of Law
St. Mary's University School of Law is one of the professional graduate schools of St. Mary's University. The law school is located in San Antonio, Texas, and is the oldest Catholic law school in the American Southwest. The University is a private Catholic university...
with a law degree. While an officer, Luna also helped train police officers in Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
as part of a U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
government program. Luna began his law career as a prosecutor for the City of San Antonio, and opened a started a private law practice in 1968.
Luna married Helen Garcia 21 August 1955 and had two sons and two daughters.
Political career
In 1969, Luna unsuccessfully ran for Justice of the PeaceJustice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
in Bexar County
Bexar County, Texas
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,392,931 people, 488,942 households, and 345,681 families residing in the county. The population density was 1,117 people per square mile . There were 521,359 housing units at an average density of 418 per square mile...
. In 1982, he ran for the District 116 Texas House seat, losing to Joe A. Gamez in the Democratic Party primary election. In 1984, Luna sought the same House seat again, this time successfully. He represented San Antonio from 1985 to 1993 in the Texas House.
In 1992, when then-state Senator Frank Tejeda
Frank Tejeda
Frank Mariano Tejeda was a decorated United States Marine and an American Democratic politician from Texas. He served in the Texas House of Representatives , the Texas Senate , and in the United States House of Representatives .-Biography:Frank M. Tejeda was born in San Antonio, Texas. He attended...
opted to make a run for U.S. Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
, Luna sought Tejeda's senate seat in District 19
Texas Senate, District 19
District 19 of the Texas Senate is a senatorial district that currently serves all of Bandera, Brewster, Crockett, Culberson, Edwards, Hudspeth, Jeff Davis, Kinney, Loving, Maverick, Medina, Pecos, Presidio, Real, Reeves, Sutton, Terrell, Uvalde, Val Verde, Ward and Winkler counties, and portions...
. He defeated the Republican challenger, auto dealer Ernesto Ancira for the four-year term.
A Democratic redistricting plan (which also altered district numbering) necessitated all state senators to run for reelection in 1994, and as a result, Luna faced an unsuccessful challenge from Republican Andrew Longaker for the remaining two years of his term, this time in District 26
Texas Senate, District 26
District 26 of the Texas Senate is a senatorial district that currently serves a portion of Bexar county in the U.S. state of Texas. The current Senator from District 26 is Leticia R. Van de Putte.-2004:-2002:-2000:...
. In 1996, Luna again fended off a challenge from Longaker, this time for a four-year term.
Luna missed most of the regular session of the 76th Legislature
Seventy-sixth Texas Legislature
The 76th Texas Legislature met from January 12, 1999 to May 31, 1999. All members present during this session were elected in the 1998 general elections.-Senate:-House:-Senate:* Lieutenant Governor: Rick Perry, Republican...
due to ill health. He was ailing from complications related to diabetes, which eventually required the amputation of both his legs. Citing his ill health, Luna resigned his senate seat on 24 September 1999. Luna died peacefully after midnight 6 November 1999 at a hospice inpatient center in San Antonio, where he had been for three weeks. He was buried in the Texas State Cemetery
Texas State Cemetery
The Texas State Cemetery is a cemetery located on about just east of downtown Austin, the capital of Texas. Originally the burial place of Edward Burleson, Texas Revolutionary general and Vice-President of the Republic of Texas, it was expanded into a Confederate cemetery during the Civil War...
on 9 November 1999.
Luna is honored by the Texas Senate Hispanic Research Council through the Senator Gregory Luna Legislative Scholar and Fellows Program which places college students with members of the Texas Senate to gain leadership experience.