Tony Garza
Encyclopedia
Antonio Oscar "Tony" Garza, Jr. (born 7 July 1959, in Brownsville, Texas
), an American
lawyer
and former county judge in Texas
, was the United States
Ambassador
to Mexico
from 2002 to 2009.
Garza received his Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Texas at Austin
in 1980 and received his Doctor of Jurisprudence in 1983 from Southern Methodist University School of Law.
), a Houston-based law firm.
In 1988, Garza was the first Republican elected to countywide office in traditionally Democratic south Texas. Garza served six years as Cameron County Judge, the top executive in the county. He worked to provide water and sanitation services to lower income areas called “colonias” and pursued health care partnerships aimed at new immigrants and indigent and marginalized populations. A fiscal conservative, Garza also led Cameron County’s efforts to raise its bond rating with industry leaders. Cameron County was, at that time, one of only two U.S.-Mexico border counties to enjoy an “A” rating. As Cameron County Judge, Garza also worked with his Mexican counterparts at the state and federal levels and was instrumental in the permitting and construction of two international bridges linking his community to Mexico.
George W. Bush
, shortly after being elected Governor of Texas in 1994, named Garza his Secretary of State and Senior Policy Advisor. During his tenure, Texas was the first state to provide Web-based election results on-line and in real time. As Governor Bush’s lead liaison on border and Mexico affairs, Garza worked on trade, the environment, and public health.
In 1998 Garza was elected to the Texas Railroad Commission, a statewide regulatory body charged with overseeing Texas’s then-$60 billion energy sector. He was the first Hispanic Republican elected to statewide office in Texas history. During this time, Garza also served as chairman of the commission and as vice-chairman on the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission, which brings together 39 oil- and gas-producing states. He did not complete the six-year term on the Railroad Commission; he was nominated by President Bush as U.S. Ambassador to Mexico in the summer of 2002. He was succeeded on the Railroad Commission by Victor G. Carrillo
of Abilene
, an appointee of Governor Rick Perry
, who was elected to a full term in 2004.
Garza presented his credentials to then-Mexican President Vicente Fox
on November 22, 2002, and took charge of one of the largest diplomatic missions in the world. At the time, he was the United States’ youngest Chief of Mission serving abroad. Announcing the appointment, President Bush said, “The United States and Mexico share not only a border, but a rich history of common economic and cultural interests. Tony Garza has an in-depth understanding of the relationship between the United States and Mexico and its impact on the people of both nations.”
During his tenure as U.S. Ambassador, Garza focused his work on international business development. He is credited as being amongst the primary proponents of the landmark Mérida Initiative aimed at addressing critical regional security concerns.
Garza is a partner of Vianovo, a management and communications consulting company. He also serves as chairman of Vianovo Ventures, the firm's cross-border business development unit. In addition to his roles at Vianovo, Garza serves as Counsel in the Mexico City office of White & Case
, a law firm with 36 offices in 25 countries.
. A native of Mexico City, she serves as President of Tresalia Capital and also serves on a number of Mexican corporate boards. Aramburuzabala controls the Mexican brewery Grupo Modelo
, which produces Corona
beer. In 2005 Forbes
estimated Aramburuzabala's personal fortune be around $1.8 billion, making her Mexico's richest woman. The couple divorced in May 2010.
Brownsville, Texas
Brownsville is a city in the southernmost tip of the state of Texas, in the United States. It is located on the northern bank of the Rio Grande, directly north and across the border from Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico. Brownsville is the 16th largest city in the state of Texas with a population of...
), an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
and former county judge in Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, was the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Ambassador
Ambassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
to Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
from 2002 to 2009.
Early life and education
Garza, the son of gas station owner, graduated from Saint Joseph Academy in Brownsville, the seat of Cameron County on the Gulf of Mexico coast in far south Texas. He is the grandson of Mexican immigrants to the United States.Garza received his Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Texas at Austin
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
in 1980 and received his Doctor of Jurisprudence in 1983 from Southern Methodist University School of Law.
Public service and career
Antonio O. Garza served as a partner in the Austin office of Bracewell & Patterson, L.L.P. (now Bracewell & GiulianiBracewell & Giuliani
Bracewell & Giuliani LLP is an international law firm based in Houston, Texas, that began in 1945. The firm has over 470 lawyers, and has United States offices in New York, Washington, D.C., Hartford, San Antonio, Seattle, Dallas, and Austin, and overseas offices in Dubai, and London...
), a Houston-based law firm.
In 1988, Garza was the first Republican elected to countywide office in traditionally Democratic south Texas. Garza served six years as Cameron County Judge, the top executive in the county. He worked to provide water and sanitation services to lower income areas called “colonias” and pursued health care partnerships aimed at new immigrants and indigent and marginalized populations. A fiscal conservative, Garza also led Cameron County’s efforts to raise its bond rating with industry leaders. Cameron County was, at that time, one of only two U.S.-Mexico border counties to enjoy an “A” rating. As Cameron County Judge, Garza also worked with his Mexican counterparts at the state and federal levels and was instrumental in the permitting and construction of two international bridges linking his community to Mexico.
George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
, shortly after being elected Governor of Texas in 1994, named Garza his Secretary of State and Senior Policy Advisor. During his tenure, Texas was the first state to provide Web-based election results on-line and in real time. As Governor Bush’s lead liaison on border and Mexico affairs, Garza worked on trade, the environment, and public health.
In 1998 Garza was elected to the Texas Railroad Commission, a statewide regulatory body charged with overseeing Texas’s then-$60 billion energy sector. He was the first Hispanic Republican elected to statewide office in Texas history. During this time, Garza also served as chairman of the commission and as vice-chairman on the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission, which brings together 39 oil- and gas-producing states. He did not complete the six-year term on the Railroad Commission; he was nominated by President Bush as U.S. Ambassador to Mexico in the summer of 2002. He was succeeded on the Railroad Commission by Victor G. Carrillo
Victor G. Carrillo
Victor G. Carrillo is the chairman of the Texas Railroad Commission, a petroleum, natural gas, and pipeline regulatory body on which he has served since his initial appointment in February 2003 by Governor Rick Perry...
of Abilene
Abilene, Texas
Abilene is a city in Taylor and Jones counties in west central Texas. The population was 117,063 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Abilene Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had a 2006 estimated population of 158,063. It is the county seat of Taylor County...
, an appointee of Governor Rick Perry
Rick Perry
James Richard "Rick" Perry is the 47th and current Governor of Texas. A Republican, Perry was elected Lieutenant Governor of Texas in 1998 and assumed the governorship in December 2000 when then-governor George W. Bush resigned to become President of the United States. Perry was elected to full...
, who was elected to a full term in 2004.
Garza presented his credentials to then-Mexican President Vicente Fox
Vicente Fox
Vicente Fox Quesada is a Mexican former politician who served as President of Mexico from 1 December 2000 to 30 November 2006 and currently serves as co-President of the Centrist Democrat International, an international organization of Christian democratic political parties.Fox was elected...
on November 22, 2002, and took charge of one of the largest diplomatic missions in the world. At the time, he was the United States’ youngest Chief of Mission serving abroad. Announcing the appointment, President Bush said, “The United States and Mexico share not only a border, but a rich history of common economic and cultural interests. Tony Garza has an in-depth understanding of the relationship between the United States and Mexico and its impact on the people of both nations.”
During his tenure as U.S. Ambassador, Garza focused his work on international business development. He is credited as being amongst the primary proponents of the landmark Mérida Initiative aimed at addressing critical regional security concerns.
Garza is a partner of Vianovo, a management and communications consulting company. He also serves as chairman of Vianovo Ventures, the firm's cross-border business development unit. In addition to his roles at Vianovo, Garza serves as Counsel in the Mexico City office of White & Case
White & Case
White & Case was founded in New York in 1901 and has grown into one of the world's leading global law firms. The firm has since expanded, and has practice groups in emerging markets including Latin America, Central & Eastern Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia, as well as in Europe...
, a law firm with 36 offices in 25 countries.
Personal life
In 2005 Garza married María Asunción AramburuzabalaMaría Asunción Aramburuzabala
María Asunción Aramburuzabala Larregui de Garza is a businesswoman in Mexico and Latin America. She is Chairman of the Board of Tresalia Capital.-Personal:...
. A native of Mexico City, she serves as President of Tresalia Capital and also serves on a number of Mexican corporate boards. Aramburuzabala controls the Mexican brewery Grupo Modelo
Grupo Modelo
Grupo Modelo is a large brewery in Mexico, It has 63% of the Mexican beer market, and exports beer to the United Kingdom, United States and Canada . Its export brands include Corona, Modelo, and Pacífico...
, which produces Corona
Corona (beer)
Corona Extra, better known as Corona and labeled as Coronita in Spain, is a brand of pale lager owned and produced by Cerveceria Modelo at a number of breweries in Mexico. It is one of the best-selling beers in Mexico and is one of the top-selling beers worldwide...
beer. In 2005 Forbes
Forbes
Forbes is an American publishing and media company. Its flagship publication, the Forbes magazine, is published biweekly. Its primary competitors in the national business magazine category are Fortune, which is also published biweekly, and Business Week...
estimated Aramburuzabala's personal fortune be around $1.8 billion, making her Mexico's richest woman. The couple divorced in May 2010.