HOUSTON — Felix Fraga, who spent decades in public service in the Houston area, died at 94, his son said on social media.
Fraga was a longtime Houston civil leader who grew up in the Second Ward, where he was born in 1929. He was a member of City Council from 1994 to 1999 and also served on the Houston ISD School Board.
Fraga worked hard for those who were less fortunate until the end of his life.
"He leaves a legacy of community service," his son, Bolivar Fraga, said.
Bolivar said his father started helping the community when he was a teen working at Baker Ripley, which at the time was called the Settlement House.
Later in life, he managed the Ripley House for 20 years and spent most of his adult life as an activist for Houston's East End.
His family made the announcement Tuesday on Facebook and said he died due to complications from Alzheimer's. Funeral arrangements weren't disclosed.
Here's what Bolivar Moyano Fraga's post said:
"It is with great sadness and yet with great gratitude and joy for a life well lived, the love we shared, and faith in life everlasting that we announce the passing this evening of our beloved Felix Fraga - husband, father, father-in-law, grandfather, brother, uncle, community leader, servant of the people - due to complications from Alzheimer’s.
"We give thanks for the beautiful and meaningful ways he touched so many lives and helped so many. Now, he is free and at peace."
Fraga was the first Mexican-American to play baseball for the University of Houston. He led the Cougars in batting average in 1949 and 1950.
"The big fork in the road in his life. He had a good shot to go to the major leagues is my understanding," Bolivar said.
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Instead, Felix Fraga chose of life of service and studied social work.
Millie Contreras said she remembers her first encounter with Felix when she was little and he knocked on her family’s door asking what they needed in the middle of a hot summer.
"Three days later, he came back with an air conditioner. That was our first air conditioner," Contreras said.
Felix Fraga didn't just help those with basic needs. He also started English classes, citizenship classes and youth programs for kids in the area.
"His life was about bringing opportunity to the vulnerable community," Baker Ripley President and CEO Claudia Aguirre said.
After his time at Baker Ripley, Felix joined the HISD School Board and then moved to City Council.
His family said that even while he was battling Alzheimer's and at times couldn't remember his own children, he would still talk about the community.
The Felix Fraga campus at Houston Community College is on Drennan Street at Navigation Boulevard.
Mayor John Whitmire issued this statement on Fraga's passing:
"Today, we mourn the loss of former city council member Felix Fraga. A native Houstonian, Fraga dedicated his life to serving others with commitment and kindness.
"From his days as a volunteer to his days serving in HISD, then City Hall, he was always striving to make our city a better place.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and loved ones during this time."
Interview with Felix Fraga (July 2016)
Below are six parts to Civil Rights in Black and Brown by TCU
Felix Fraga was interviewed as part of the project by TCU, working with the University of North Texas. Fraga's interview was broken into the six parts below.