Alice in Jim Wells County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Alonso S. Perales

Photographed by Tom Anderson, November 17, 2020

1. Alonso S. Perales Marker

Inscription. Alonso Perales, born on Oct. 17, 1898 in Alice, was orphaned at a young age, losing his father, Nicolas Perales, at age six and his mother, Susana Sandoval, at age twelve. Perales graduated from Alice High School and attended Draughon's Practical Business College. During World War I, his stenography skills earned a job as a U.S. Army field clerk. Perales moved to Washington, D.C. and worked for the U.S. Department of Commerce. He received a B.A. from George Washington University and a law degree in 1926. His skills as a bilingual lawyer led to a job with the U.S. Department of State, where he served on 13 diplomatic missions to Mexico, the West Indies and Central and South America. Perales was an attorney on General Pershing's staff for the Tacna-Arica Commission in 1925-26, and a legal advisor to the electoral mission in Nicaragua in 1928, 1930 and 1932.

On June 29, 1927, Perales issued a press release publicizing his new law offices in McAllen and Rio Grande City, as well as "preliminary steps for the formation…of a strong entity of American citizens of Mexican origin whose exclusive objective would be to sincerely

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work for pro intellectual, economic, social and political improvement." On Aug. 14, 1927 at a civil rights conference in Harlingen, Perales, J. T. Canales and Luz Saenz, members of the League of Latin American Citizens, supported a resolution to unify all Mexican-American organizations. That action led to the founding of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) on February 17, 1929. Perales was a prominent civil rights leader through LULAC and through hundreds of essays, speeches, and newspaper articles and three books. He died in San Antonio on May 9, 1960 and was buried in Collins Cemetery, next to his mother. In 1977, San Antonio's Edgewood ISD dedicated Alonso S. Perales Elementary School.

Erected 2013 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 17587.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Civil Rights • Hispanic Americans.

Location. 27° 45.197′ N, 98° 2.777′ W. Marker is in Alice, Texas, in Jim Wells County. It is on South Flournoy Road (Farm to Market Road 1931) south of Sain Drive (County Road 342), on the right when traveling

Photographed by Google Streetview, August 2016

2. Alonso S. Perales Marker

Archelaus Bynum Dodson marker is on the left and Alonso S. Perales marker is on the right.

south. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Alice TX 78332, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in South Texas.

It is also in the American South.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the Republic of Texas,

and one of the Confederate States of America.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Archelaus Bynum Dodson (a few steps from this marker); Los Preseños (approx. 1.4 miles away); Jim Wells County Courthouse (approx. 1½ miles away); First Baptist Church of Alice (approx. 1.6 miles away); Alice (approx. 1.6 miles away); First United Methodist Church (approx. 1.6 miles away); First Presbyterian Church of Alice (approx. 1.6 miles away); Jose de Escandon (approx. 1.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Alice.

Also see . . . Perales, Alonso S. (1898–1960) - The Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association

Photographed by Brian Anderson, February 20, 2022

3. Alonso S. Perales Marker

(TSHA) (Submitted on November 18, 2020, by Brian Anderson of New Albany, Ohio.)

Alonso S. Perales Grave image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Brian Anderson, February 20, 2022

4. Alonso S. Perales Grave

Credits. This page was last revised on October 30, 2022. It was originally submitted on November 18, 2020, by Brian Anderson of New Albany, Ohio. This page has been viewed 838 times since then and 59 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 18, 2020, by Brian Anderson of New Albany, Ohio. 3, 4. submitted on October 30, 2022, by Brian Anderson of New Albany, Ohio.