Page 1B • The Leader • June 15, 2013 • www.theleadernews.com
A father’s legacy, through the generations by Charlotte Aguilar charlotte@theleadernews.com
On the surface, the life of Mexican immigrant Felix Fraga, who struggled in multiple jobs as a laborer simultaneously to support his family, would appear to have little in common with that of his grandson, Stephen Fraga – well-educated, and a polished and gracious businessman in the Heights. The link is Lupe Fraga, who learned life lessons from his dad and has now imbued them in his son: hard work, honor and a genuine love for people. Felix Fraga and wife Angela arrived in Houston in the 1920s from San Luis Potosi, Mexico, and settled in the Second Ward, east of downtown. They raised six sons, the eldest two became career military starting in World War II, and the other four all collegeeducated thanks to their father’s relentless work ethic
travel
and drive to provide opportunities for them far beyond his own. Lupe Fraga is the youngest of the sons. Now 77 himself, he remembers his untrained father working in railroad construction and washing dishes at the legendary Shamrock Hotel, his mother cleaning offices at night. “Whenever he would take a job, they would always promote him, always praise him,” recalls Lupe. “Seeing him work like that, doing many jobs to provide for us and never complaining, really made an impact.” Lupe honored his father by not squandering those opportunities. He went to St. Thomas High School and then Texas A&M, where he entered the cadet corps and played baseball. Armed with a degree in
Know These Guys
Rewards for summer reading
No, they are not wanted for any anything. Theses are the faces of some of our local business owners and, of course, fathers. Their stories provide some insights into the meaning behind the word...DAD
see Legacy • Page 2B
PLAN Reunion
‘Go Under Cover’ is the theme for the Houston Public Library’s annual summer reading program. (Submitted image) “Go Under Cover” is the statewide theme of the free annual summer reading program at Houston libraries, sponsored by the John P. McGovern Foundation, in which youngsters can earn prizes including circus and zoo tickets, Astros tickets and free books. Houston ISD students receive double benefits.
AGES: 0 - 18 years of age. HOW TO REGISTER:
Registration is conducted at Houston library branches or online at http://hplsr.evanced.info/homepage.asp through Aug. 1.
HOW TO PARTICIPATE:
To participate, read or listen to books, enter book titles or time read on your online reading log either at home or with the help of your librarian. Upon completion, go to your local Houston Public Library location to pick up your prize at the 5-, 10-, 20- and 30-book levels.
INCENTIVES:
• 5 books or 5-hour level: certificate, entered into daily prize drawing. • 10 books or 10-hour level: one free book. • 20 books or 20-hour level: additional free book, a coupon for the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, and a buy one adult ticket/get a child’s ticket free for the Houston Zoo. • 30 books or 30 hour level: one voucher for a free ticket to a Houston Astros game (children K-12) and entered into a Grand Prize drawing for a Kindle Paperwhite, an Apple iPod Nano 16GB, or a Lego 8MP Digital Camera.
ARE YOU AN HISD STUDENT?
HISD students joining the Houston Public Library Summer Reading program and completing 10 books will also earn incentives from HISD’s Summer Reading Club. For information, visit www.houstonisd.org or talk to a librarian.
Thinking Cheap Date Children Summer movies for only $1
a multi-gen trip Burns took to the road on usement park. ug Do l’s ve Tra ve ati Cre ly an am Cultural on from his yesteryear to rsi cu ex ily fam a ted rea that rec (Submitted photo)
Sherri Taggart, Cruise Capers Travel, traveled with her extended family on a multi-gen cruise over the Christmas break, hence the hats. (Submitted photo)
See
Multi-Gen Vacation Page 3B
List and locations page 2B