Joe J. Bernal
Full Name: Joseph J. BernalDate of birth: March 1, 1927
Date of death: January 25, 2025
Terms of Service
| Chamber | District | Dates of Service | Legislatures | Party | City/County | Note | Counties in District |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S | 26 | Jan 12, 1971 - Jan 9, 1973 | 62nd (1) | Democrat | San Antonio / Bexar | Bexar | |
| S | 26 | Jan 10, 1967 - Jan 12, 1971 | 61st 60th (2) | Democrat | San Antonio / Bexar | Bexar | |
| H | 68-2 | Jan 12, 1965 - Jan 10, 1967 | 59th (3) | Democrat | San Antonio / Bexar | Bexar |
Terms of service footnotes
(1) 2-year term; entire Senate went up for reelection in 1972 due to redistricting. Texas Constitution Art. III, §3, Election and term of office of Senators. ↩
(2) 60th Legislature - Drawing for Terms of Office, 1/11/1967, p. 19. Drew 4-year term. Senate Journal. ↩
(3) Sworn 1/3/1965. Oaths of Office. ↩
Terms of Service
- Legislatures:
- 62nd (1)
- Party:
- Democrat
- Home City/County:
- San Antonio / Bexar
- Counties in district:
- Bexar
- Legislatures:
- 61st 60th (2)
- Party:
- Democrat
- Home City/County:
- San Antonio / Bexar
- Counties in district:
- Bexar
- Legislatures:
- 59th (3)
- Party:
- Democrat
- Home City/County:
- San Antonio / Bexar
- Counties in district:
- Bexar
Terms of service notes
(1) 2-year term; entire Senate went up for reelection in 1972 due to redistricting. Texas Constitution Art. III, §3, Election and term of office of Senators. ↩
(2) 60th Legislature - Drawing for Terms of Office, 1/11/1967, p. 19. Drew 4-year term. Senate Journal. ↩
(3) Sworn 1/3/1965. Oaths of Office. ↩
Biographical Information
- 61st Legislature, R.S., SR 1067. Resolutions - Congratulatory and Honorary.
- 62nd Legislature, R.S., SR 565. Resolutions - Congratulatory and Honorary.
- 80th Legislature, R.S., SR 370. Resolutions - Congratulatory and Honorary.
- 85th Legislature, R.S., SR 330. Resolutions - Congratulatory and Honorary.
- 86th Legislature, R.S., HR 1730. Resolutions - Congratulatory and Honorary.
- 89th Legislature, HR 154. Resolutions - Memorial.
- "Tribute to Dr. Joe Bernal: How Bilingual Education Came to Texas–Behind the Scenes," by Christie L. Goodman, IDRA Newsletter, May 2025. Intercultural Development Research Association.
- Photos and biographical information included in LRL collection, 796.35709764 SM 2016. Mexican American Baseball in South Texas, 2016.
- Photo and biographical sketch. Senate Hispanic Research Council.
- Biographical sketch included in Tejano Struggle for Representation, 2004.
- United States Army, Sergeant, World War II, "served as an infantryman in Manila and Tokyo with the Headquarters Squadron, Pacific Air Command." Resolutions - Congratulatory and Honorary.
- United States Army. Photo and salute. With Honor and Gratitude: A Special Thank You to Our Texas Senate Members Who Served Our Country, 2017.
- In memoriam, Rep./Sen. Joe Bernal, 1/27/2025. The Capitol Post.
- Mentioned in MEXICAN AMERICAN LEGISLATIVE CAUCUS article. Handbook of Texas Online.
- Mentioned in TEJANO POLITICS. Listed among the Tejanos who served in the Texas House and Senate. Handbook of Texas Online.
- Bernal, Joe; Sinta, Vinicio & Arionus, Steve. Oral History Interview with Joe Bernal; Part 1, 7/1/2016, and Part 2, 7/5/2016; crediting TCU Mary Couts Burnett Library. Portal to Texas History (University of North Texas Libraries). Part 1 Part 2
- Historical Interview: Former State Representative & Senator Joe J. Bernal, interviewed by Representative Trey Martinez Fischer, 3/5/2019, Speaker's Reunion Day Oral History Project. Texas House of Representatives.
- Obituary and photos, "Joe Bernal, a Champion for Bilingual Education and Civil Rights, Dies at 97," 1/27/2025. Texas Public Radio.
- Interview, Celebrating 50 Years: Living Hero: Sen. Joe Bernal, 11/11/2019. "Former state legislator Joe Bernal talks about the founding days of UTSA, when he drafted the Texas Senate bill in 1969 that would help create The University of Texas at San Antonio." The University of Texas at San Antonio. Selected newspaper articles
- Photograph. Joe J. Bernal, 62nd Legislature, State Preservation Board
- Photograph. Joe J. Bernal, 61st Legislature, State Preservation Board
- Photograph. Joe J. Bernal, 60th Legislature, State Preservation Board
- Photograph. Joe J. Bernal, 59th Legislature, State Preservation Board
- 60th session composite photo of Senate members (Ground floor corridor, south wall. GE.C1). State Preservation Board.
- 61st session composite photo of Senate members (Ground floor corridor, south wall. GE.C1). State Preservation Board.
- 62nd session composite photo of Senate members (Ground floor corridor, south wall. GE.C1). State Preservation Board.
- 59th session composite photo of House members (Ground floor corridor, south wall. GW.C1). State Preservation Board.
Committee Information
Senate Committees
- Constitutional Amendments
- County, District and Urban Affairs
- Education
- Federal Programs and Relations (Chair)
- Human Resources
- Intergovernmental Relations
- Interstate Cooperation
- Legislative, Congressional and Judicial Districts
- Military and Veterans Affairs
- Privileges and Elections (Vice Chair)
- Public Health
- Public Junior Colleges, Interim (Chair)
- State Departments and Institutions
- State Departments and Institutions Subcommittee on Construction of the Bauer House for the Chancellor at the University of Texas at Austin
- Youth Affairs
Senate Committees
- Claims (Chair)
- Commerce and Industry
- Education
- Insurance
- Interstate Cooperation
- Jurisprudence
- Nominations
- Oil and Gas
- Pipeline
- State Departments and Institutions (Vice Chair)
- Urban Affairs
- Water and Conservation
Joint Committees
Senate Committees
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