In Memory of former Mayor Arturo Galvan
Future Site of the Arturo Galvan Coastal Park Dedication Ceremony

Saturday, July 9, 2001 at 10:00 a.m.

Family & friends of the Arturo Galvan Family gather for the
unveiling of the Future Site of the Mayor Arturo Galvan
Coastal Park.

Welcome by Port Isabel City Manager Edward P. Meza.

Mayor Arturo Galvan’s great grandchildren and the American
Legion Post 498, VFW Post 8791 lead the Pledge of Allegiance.

Mayor Joe E. Vega shares the history of Mayor Galvan and
his family in the community of Port Isabel.

Friends and family of Mayor Arturo Galvan gather for dedication.

Pictured: Port Isabel Commissioner Memo Torres, Mrs. Galvan,
Commissioner MJ Garza, Mayor Vega and Edward Meza present
framed invitation and program to Mrs. Galvan.

Commissioner MJ Garza leads invocation and provides remarks.

Unveiling of the future site of the Arturo Galvan Coastal Park. Second St. and
North Shore Drive. Port Isabel.

Auturo Galvan Biography

Arturo Galvan was born on January 31, 1930. He was the eldest son of Antonio Galvan and Esparanza Garza Galvan. He had four siblings: brothers Ignacio, Antonio Jr., Frank, and a sister who died at nine months.

Arturo graduated from Port Isabel High School in 1950. He would always tell his children and grandchildren that they needed to work hard at their studies so they could graduate in the top t0 just like him. He would then add that there were only eight in his class!

Arturo was drafted the same year he graduated. He served in the U.S. Army and was deployed to Korea for the Korean Conflict. Arturo did not talk about his experiences ?there, but would often talk about the friends who joined him. Stories of Guy Carpenter, Robert Gonzales, Moises Vela, and Johnny Barrientez were often shared with his family.

Arturo fell in love and married his sweetheart, Mary Lou Perez, on January 16, 1955. During that time, Arturo worked for Floyd Bobbit at the Gulf Service Station. Arturo and Mary Lou planned on having at least six children, but six turned to eleven. They started parenthood in December of 1977 and celebrated the birth of their last child on Arturo’s 48th birthday in 1978. Many of their 24 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren were present for the dedication.

Arturo’s political career began as a request from Mayor Hockaday who appointed him on the committee for Urban Renewal. He was elected a member of the Point Isabel School Board where he served for many years. Arturo was the Port Isabel Mayor from 1970-1972. During this short time, be believed that his city needed harmony and he managed to maintain that during his tenure. After work, he would continue to improve the city on his own time, fixing alleys, looking for the best bids for fire trucks, etc. He had a vision to make tis area in Derry available for public use as he spent many days fishiing with his wife and children enjoying the Laguna Madre. He was even responsible for providing the City with its first ambulance, and appointing Eliseo Vega as a municipal judge.

Arturo gave himself wholeheartedly to his community and his family, and was liked by all who knew him. He had a charismatic smile and a great personality. He loved dancing, his favorite was the jitterbug. Arturo was a devout Catholic and would often say, “God knows what I am doing and only He will give me credit.” Arturo Galvan passed on to a better life on June 27, 1998. although he is not here with us today, he will forever be in our hearts.