Family Background

What is known about the family history of Santos Alvarado begins in 1910 when his father, Francisco Alvarado was born in St. Hedwig, Texas to Anastacio Alvarado and Victoria Chapa. Based on oral history, Anastacio returned to Mexico to fight in the Mexican Revolution sometime after Francisco was born. Families such as that of Anastacio were left behind never knowing what became of their husbands, fathers, and sons. Genealogical research traces Victoria Chapa from an early age in Texas before and after marriage to Anastacio. However, no research has ever resulted in any traces of Anastacio in the United States after the Mexican Revolution.

Unfortunately, less is known about the family history of Bonifacia Rodriguez, mother to Santos and his eleven siblings. Bonifacia was born in Hebbronville, Texas in 1921 to Felix Rodriguez and Rita Ortiz. Since she could remember Bonifacia lived with her half-sister and husband in Orange Grove, Texas. In 1933, young Francisco and very young Bonifacia began their married life in Orange Grove.

Like millions of Americans, for eight years Francisco and Bonifacia, strived to live through the aftereffects of the Great Depression. With agriculture as the only skill set available to them, they went from farm-to-farm working in the fields of cotton. However, farm life in south Texas became challenging after World War II began. It was the war that would change life for his family. Francisco received a draft notice in 1941 after which he enlisted in the US Army. He, like his father Anastacio, went off to fight for his country.

After his tour of duty, Francisco returned home as a former POW and honorable discharge from the US Army to resume his family life in 1943. The US Congress passed legislation for many veterans benefits after World War II. Francisco used the GI Bill to enroll in a correspondence course for Television and Radio repair. The history of television and radio will tell you that this technology was in its early stages of development in 1944. In Orange Grove, Francisco’s choice of training would not create opportunities to improve his family’s prosperity. Not to be deterred, eventually Francisco moved his family to San Antonio.