Severo Garza Saenz
ALL MEMORIES FROM THE FAMILY
ADD A MEMORY RECEIVE UPDATES
Diana Garza-Louis
July 5, 2018
Childhood and youth
Severo was born in Carmargo, Tamaulipas, Mexico, on the border off Rio Grande City, Texas, on October 16, 1925. He was the eldest of four children, himself, and Nerea, sons of Severo Garza Bast and Ramona Saenz, and Eloisa and Aurelia, her half sisters. When he was only four years old, his mother Ramona died, and he was raised by his father, his stepmother, and his Nana Macrina, who always called him his "little monkey", (until he died with eighty or more years). Severo's father died when he was only sixteen years old, and was forced to support his stepmother and his sisters. He was curious and always liked electronics since childhood, experimenting with installing lights on the family ranch in northern Tamaulipas, photography creating his own camera with an old camera, announcing movies from the cinema in the speaker's car with his speakers of mounted and driving through the city, and many other pastimes and experiments. His friend from the telegraph office in Camargo helped him pay for a course by mail in communications and accompanied him to Mexico City to take his communications exam so he could work as a radio broadcast technician. While there, he became very ill and remained in Mexico City for three months until his friend arrived in Mexico City to return him home. Soon after, his cousin who lived in Matamoros offered him work in his radio and television repair shop, and provided him with food and lodging for his family. He began to advertise movies and commercials in the car with horns, in Matamoros and caught the attention of an owner of a radio station, who offered to work on his radio station. Therefore, he began his career as a radio technician, announcer, manager and eventually owner.
Diana Garza-Louis
July 5, 2018
Severo attended the 6th grade at Camargo / Villa Nueva Elementary School (he received his High School diploma when he was over eighty years old!). There he met Josefa, his sister's friend. Later they met in Matamoros and were married on September 27, 1948. They raised five children; Luis, Severo, Minerva, Juan and Diana. They were married for almost 70 years. They were involved in many social activities in Matamoros, including being the president of the Rotary club in Matamoros, the national association of radio amateurs in Mexico (ARARM) and many other activities. As a radio announcer in the 50s and 60s, he was well known in the border regions with radio programs, hosting Charro Days events and as an amateur radio operator assisting during hurricanes and other local disasters.
In the 70s the family moved to Puebla, Puebla, and Severo worked as a radio technician in Acapulco, Poza Rica, Puebla and Mexico City among others. They returned to the border to try to realize their dream of returning to the ranch, but that dream was not realized. In the late 1980s, Severo proudly claimed to be the chief technician of all radio stations along the border between Matamoros and Rio Bravo, Tamaulipas, maintaining around 30 radio stations and designing and building numerous studios .
Severo and Josefa had a long and happy life together. They taught us the values of honoring one another, being kind, attentive and honest, and striving to be the best we can be. They lived in Matamoros,
Tamaulipas, and Puebla, Puebla, Mexico, Rio Grande City, McAllen, and Boerne, Texas. Severo is survived by his wife Josefa, and their five children, nine grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Dorothy Repka
July 4, 2018
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