Henry González

BROWNSVILLE, TX. - Enrique C. González, fondly and better known as “Henry,” passed away peacefully on Friday, the 24th March 2023, surrounded by his loving family. He was eighty-seven years of age.

Originally born in San Benito, Texas, in 1935, Henry was a Brownsville native and would become an iconic local public servant and businessman with the best taste in Charro Days costumes. He was preceded in death by his parents, Maria and Emilio González; his siblings, Reynaldo Gonzales, Gloria Oliveira, and Maria “Fela” Walters; and by several nephews.

Henry is survived by his high school sweetheart, love of his life, and wife of over sixty-five years, Mary Lou González; his children, Henry (Rita) González, Cissie González, Lettie González, Magda (Charles) Tandy, and Justo Emilio González; his grandchildren, Louie (Sally) Hernandez, Alexandra (Jayton) Rainey, Henry van‘t Hooft, Joseph van‘t Hooft, Justo Emilio González, Jr., and Rita (Heli) Rodriguez; his great-grandchildren, Ronin Hernandez, Violet Hernandez, Vicente Rodriguez, and Nicolas Rodriguez; his siblings, Delia González, Emiliano (Julieta) Gonzales, Carlos (Hilda) Gonzales, and Carmen Urquhart; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Born into the humblest of beginnings, hard work, integrity, and service were instilled in Henry from a very young age that would persist and direct the rest of his life. The son of a farmer father and mother of eight children, Henry was expected to earn and contribute his fair share for the family, all while getting his education. He attended First Ward Elementary School and Saint Joseph Academy, of which he graduated in 1954 where he paid his own tuition ($3.00 per month) thanks to working part-time jobs on the farm. He was a tremendous athlete – excelling in football and basketball for the Bloodhounds! Following graduation, he matriculated to the promised land of College Station, Texas to attend the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas (now Texas A&M University) to study business marketing and join the Corps of Cadets in the C-Field Artillery outfit. He graduated in 1958.

On August 30, 1957, he and his sweetheart studying at Texas Women’s College, Mary Lou, were united at Sacred Heart Catholic Church sealing their life together in marriage and devout Catholic faith. The two would return to Texas A&M for his senior year to graduate and start their family of what would grow to five children and lifelong career from the cotton business across the country and back to his beloved Brownsville for roles in education, the seafood business, and local government service.

Joining the Brownsville Independent School District in 1962, Henry’s service ranged from teaching history and physical education at Cummings Junior High to BISD Director of Transportation and Supplies over thirteen years. In 1975, he left to serve on the school board as a trustee, campaigning with his dear friend, Pat L. Pace, Sr., and eventually a term as president. Henry and his fellow trustees achieved passage of multi-million-bond issues and the construction of new schools, of which he was most proud.

Prompting a hiatus from elected office, a Brownsville staple and Henry’s wife’s family’s business, Henry convinced his father-in-law, Justo Barrientes, Sr., to squeeze him into the kitchen to learn the restaurant trade where he would eventually manage and help lead its Rio Grande Valley expansion and Paredes Line Road location with his two sons, Henry Jr. and Justo, for the rest of his days. For many, it would not be “The Oyster Bar experience” without a greeting from Henry and his dish towel hanging over his shoulder.

Eventually, the early 1990s presented opportunity for Henry to return to public service and apply his “no-nonsense” leadership and business experience to the economic development the City of Brownsville desperately needed. Henry found his new calling in – public service – not politics. He was adamantly against being seen as a politician; he was a public servant focused on accountability and getting things done, regardless of what people thought about him, “The Bear.” For ten years, Henry would successfully run and serve as City Commissioner for five years and another five as Mayor. Henry built a legacy alongside his team, and most significantly, with his closest confidante and lifelong friend, Commissioner John Wood. The dynamic duo of Mayor González and Commissioner Wood traveled to Washington, D.C. several times to acquire the current City Hall (Old Federal Courthouse) for Brownsville. Several accomplishments Henry was most proud of from his years in office included the completion of the Veterans International Bridge at Los Tomates, cleaning up the city through the “Make a Difference Day” initiative, its overall economic and city-limits expansion, developing financial stability for the city, establishing the “Sister-City” relationship with Matamoros and working tirelessly to nurture that relationship for the benefit of the two cities, just to name a few.

Following his years as Mayor, Henry spent his days devoted to his forever First Lady of Brownsville. The two were inseparable, except when he could convince Mary Lou to let him hit the golf course for a few hours, and could always be spotted dining around town, at one of their grandchildren’s functions or athletic events, at daily Mass, escaping to Aggieland for Aggie Football games, or at home in his chair watching Wheel of Fortune, Andy Griffith, and his favorite Westerns. He will be missed immensely.

Visiting hours will be held on Monday, the 27th of March 2023 between the hours of five o’clock in the afternoon and nine o'clock at night, with the recitation of the holy rosary to begin at seven o'clock Monday evening within the East Chapel of Darling-Mouser Funeral Home.

The Funeral Mass will be celebrated at two o’clock in the afternoon on Tuesday, the 28th of March 2023 at St. Luke Catholic Church, 2800 Rockwell Drive, Brownsville. Entombment will then follow, via an escorted procession, at the Buena Vista Burial Park Mausoleum, 5 McDavitt Boulevard, Brownsville.

Honored to serve as his pallbearers are his grandsons, Louie Hernandez, Justo Emilio González, Jr., Joseph van‘t Hooft, Henry van‘t Hooft, Jayton Rainey, and Heli Rodriguez.

Honorary pallbearers include John Wood, Pete González, Mike Garcia, Bob Hayter, and Luke Fruia.

The González family wishes to express their deepest gratitude and appreciation for the countless friendships and support of their family and father, Henry, over the years. In lieu of floral arrangements and customary remembrances, to perpetuate Henry’s passion for education, loyalty and tremendous pride for being a member of the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Class of 1958, father to four Aggies (’80, ’81, ’83, ’84) and a proud Aggie Dad, and grandfather to three Aggies (’15, ’15, ’18), an Endowed Memorial Aggie Ring Scholarship has been established in his loving honor and memory. This scholarship will perpetually afford Texas A&M University students their coveted Aggie Rings, one of Henry’s most prized possessions himself, who otherwise could not afford one. To make a memorial gift in his name, please visit: tx.ag/HenryGonzalez

Memories of Henry may be shared at www.darlingmouser.com.

Personalized funeral arrangements directed by Steven R. Hieu Bailey and Staff have been entrusted to the care of Darling-Mouser Funeral Home at 945 Palm Boulevard in Brownsville, Texas 78520, (956) 546-7111.