Lauro Cavazos
| The Honorable Lauro F. Cavazos, Jr. |
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Official photograph of Cavazos
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| 4th United States Secretary of Education | |
| In office September 20, 1988 – December 12, 1990 |
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| President | Ronald W. Reagan George H. W. Bush |
| Preceded by | William Bennett |
| Succeeded by | Lamar Alexander |
| Personal details | |
| Born | January 4, 1927 Kleberg County, Texas, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Peggy Ann Murdock |
| Children | Ten children |
| Alma mater | Texas Tech University Iowa State University |
| Profession | Educator |
Lauro Fred Cavazos Jr. (born January 4, 1927) is a U.S. educator and politician. He served as Secretary of Education, and was the first Hispanic to serve in the United States Cabinet.
A sixth-generation Texan, he was born on the King Ranch near Kingsville, Texas, where his father served as foreman of the showcase Santa Gertrudis cattle division.[1] He was the son of Lauro F. Cavazos, Sr., and the former Tomasa Quintanilla. Through his maternal ancestry, he is a descendant of Texas Revolution heroine Francita Alavez, the "Angel of Goliad".
He earned B.A. and M.A. degrees in zoology from Texas Tech University, and a Ph.D. in physiology from Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. While in college, he was a member of Kappa Kappa Psi. Following a stint on the faculties of Tufts University and the Medical College of Virginia. From 1975-80, he served as Dean of the Tufts University School of Medicine. From April 15, 1980, to 1988, he served as President of Texas Tech University. He was both the first alumnus and the first Hispanic to serve as Texas Tech president.[citation needed]
A Democrat, Cavazos served as Secretary of Education from August 1988 to December 1990 during the Republican Reagan and George H. W. Bush administrations. He was forced to resign amid an investigation into improper use of frequent flyer miles in December 1990.
Following his resignation, he returned to the faculty of Tufts University where he is currently Professor of Public Health and Family Medicine. He is married to the former Peggy Ann Murdock. The couple has ten children and currently reside in Boston, Massachusetts. He is the brother of U.S. Army General Richard E. Cavazos.[2]
References
- ↑ "Texas Tech to install president April 15", Canadian Record, Canadian, Texas, February 14, 1980, p. 14
- ↑ http://lubbockonline.com/sports-red-raiders-football/2013-11-18/bobby-cavazos-son-king-ranch-tech-all-american-dies
Links
- Lauro F. Cavazos papers (Texas Tech Archives)
- Answers.com-Lauro Cavazos
- "Cancel Our Reservations" - Time Magazine article regarding use of frequent flier miles
| Political offices | ||
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| Preceded by | U.S. Secretary of Education Served under: Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush 1988 – 1990 |
Succeeded by Lamar Alexander |
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Cabinet of President Ronald Reagan (1981–89)
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- Articles with unsourced statements from October 2014
- 1927 births
- Living people
- American zoologists
- People from Kingsville, Texas
- United States Secretaries of Education
- Reagan administration cabinet members
- George H. W. Bush administration cabinet members
- Hispanic and Latino American members of the Cabinet of the United States
- Texas Democrats
- Massachusetts Democrats
- American politicians of Mexican descent
- Presidents of Texas Tech University
- Tufts University faculty
- Texas Tech University alumni
- Iowa State University alumni
