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A campus community remembers Senator Frank Madla Jr.
For this series, we focus on Senator Frank Madla, to highlight and remember the man who was critical in creating Texas A&M University-San Antonio. More In This Series »

Small town boy to Texas Senator: a younger brother recalls the legacy of Frank Madla Jr

Small town boy to Texas Senator: a younger brother recalls the legacy of Frank Madla Jr - The Mesquite Online News - Texas A&M University-San Antonio

Ralph Madla, the younger brother of Frank Madla Jr., opens up about his brother and smiles as he reflects on memories they made together growing up.

Editor’s note: This story was updated on 11/08/17.

In November 2006, a house fire claimed the life of the man credited with bringing university-level education to the South Side of San Antonio. The late Senator Frank Madla Jr. spent most of his life educating and empowering the people of San Antonio.

His efforts, through legislation with the Texas Senate and the House of Representatives, have set precedence, and will continue to impact the residents of this community for generations to come.

Ralph Madla describes his brother’s journey from being a kid, to becoming an influence to the people of San Antonio. Photo by Aaron Perez
Ralph Madla describes his brother’s journey from being a kid, to becoming an influence to the people of San Antonio. Photo by Aaron Perez

Frank Madla advocated for higher education and future employment. He helped secure the funds for institutions like A&M-San Antonio and the Toyota plant on the South Side.

Childhood on the Madla ranch

On a clear Monday afternoon, Ralph Madla, the 76-year-old younger brother of Frank Madla Jr., repelled down a zip line from a distant hilltop to meet with reporters and discuss the family history.

Ralph unclipped himself and gave the reporters a friendly hello. With a welcoming smile, he walked up wearing a cowboy hat, boots, wranglers and a nicely tucked in button down shirt.

After taking a seat under an old oak tree, Ralph went into depth on his childhood with Frank Madla Jr. and life growing up on the ranch.

His great grandparents made their way from Poland to Indianola, Texas, in the 1850s. By 1855, their son Francisco was born in Gonzales and by 1860, they had settled in Helotes.

Ralph Madla smiles as he tells a story about his brother when he was a senator and how a street sign turned the day around for three ladies in West Texas. Photo by Aaron Perez
Ralph Madla smiles as he tells a story about his brother when he was a senator and how a street sign turned the day around for three ladies in West Texas. Photo by Aaron Perez

“My grandfather bought what they call the school land which was from here to Bandera Road and that totaled 1,200 acres,” Ralph Madla said.

Frank Lloyd Madla Sr. married Epimenia (Minnie) Alcala, who came from Piedras Negras, Mexico. They had three children. Frank Lloyd Madla Jr., the oldest, was born January 23, 1937, just north of San Antonio in Helotes on the tight-knit family ranch.

“My mother was an Alcala, and Aunt Dora was an Alcala, then the older sister Aunt Susie married dad’s first cousin. We had three moms growing up, we could never do anything wrong,” Ralph Madla said. “I don’t care where you went on the ranch there was an Alcala watching you.”

Growing up on the ranch, the brothers were unaware of their family’s financial struggle but enjoyed life’s simplicity.

Growing up on the ranch, the brothers were unaware of their family’s financial struggle but enjoyed life’s simplicity.

Along with the family dog, they trapped ringtails, foxes and raccoons so that they could kill and then clean the animal hides to make extra money.

“We were poor, we just didn’t know it,” Ralph Madla said.

They raised sheep, goats, cattle and even planted corn to provide for the Madla and Alcala families living on the ranch.

“My dad opened a campground back here. We worked, built a dam, built a fire pit, swimming pool and had a really neat and nice waterfall,” Ralph Madla said.

Ralph Madla points to some of the old places on the ranch that he and his brother used to hunt and play as children. Photo by Aaron Perez
Ralph Madla points to some of the old places on the ranch that he and his brother used to hunt and play as children. Photo by Aaron Perez

Speaking only Spanish in a community that was almost entirely comprised of English speakers created multiple challenges, but the brothers picked up the language quickly in school and progressed rapidly.

“Our school teacher said she would always send the Mexicans home por que tienin piojos y los gabachos tienen caspa or send Frank home for speaking Mexican,” Ralph said.

During the interview, Ralph pointed to a high point on the ranch and explained that place was known to him and his brother as the top of the world. This point is where his grandfather chose to build the schoolhouse.

His father, having only a fifth grade education and his mother only finishing the eighth grade, made it a priority for their children to learn.

“Yes, when they went they had a Model A Ford with rumble seat and they rode the Model A Ford all the way into San Antonio 45 miles per hour, they’d pick up Frank and walk over to Aunt Dora’s,” Ralph Madla said.

The transition from teaching to politicsWhile attending Central Catholic High School and St. Mary’s University, Frank Madla drove the long drive from the family ranch and provided his siblings with rides to and from school.

“Frank would drive and drop them off at Our Lady of the Lake, then he’d drop off Elaine, drop me off at Central and then he’d go to St. Mary’s and in the evening he did the same thing,” Ralph Madla said.

Frank earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree in political science from St. Mary’s University. This is where he was inspired by Dr. Bill Crane, one of his professors. He began educating in 1959 in the Edgewood School District. He worked at Escobar Elementary where he taught Civics/politics and history until 1962. Later he became a professor at St. Philip’s college.

With inspiration from his students at St. Philips College and guidance from his mentor, Dr. Bill Crane, Frank focused on a career in Texas politics. A career that would span 33 years.

Frank remained focused on progress for the South Side during his 20 years in the House of Representatives and 13 years in the Senate.

In his quest to secure the location of San Antonio’s newest university, Frank took the lead in expressing the need for the underrepresented people he spoke for to have a university as a permanent fixture in their community.

Rodney Madla, nephew of the late Senator, recalled the time that Frank demonstrated the gap between the South Side and higher learning.

Frank Madla had no problem reaching across the aisle to garner bipartisan support for key issues concerning the community.

“He got on a bus. He went from the South Side of San Antonio and he spent all day transferring from one bus to the other to see how long it would take to get to UTSA,” Rodney Madla said.

As the main proponent for change in his community, Frank had no problem reaching across the aisle to garner bipartisan support for key issues concerning the community. This created strife amongst other Democrats, but the outcome far outweighed the risk.

With his first election win to the San Antonio Independent School District Board of Trustees in 1971, Frank connected with Frank Tejeda, Frank Wing and politicians from both sides of the aisle to successfully change the political landscape of San Antonio.

“Frank never hesitated to reach across party lines to do what was best for his fellow Texans, and I was proud to work with him when I was governor. Texas has lost a fine man,” said former president George W. Bush in an official White House release after the Senator’s death.

His devotion to the South Side and its future success made Frank Madla a key figure on the Senate floor. He earned the respect and admiration of his colleagues by setting the example for building rapport and the art of closing deals.

With nearly 600 Senate and House bills to his credit, Senator Frank Madla became the change he wanted to see, and made his dream of higher education and sustainable employment a reality.

Ralph Madla and Ol’ Ugly, his truck’s nickname, reflect off the ranch’s pila. Pilas are are concrete tanks used by ranchers to hold water for their livestock. Photo by Aaron Perez
Ralph Madla and Ol’ Ugly, his truck’s nickname, reflect off the ranch’s pila. Pilas are are concrete tanks used by ranchers to hold water for their livestock. Photo by Aaron Perez

Upon his death, Texas Governor Rick Perry ordered the flags to half-staff to pay respects to such an influential man.

“Frank was a mentor to me when I came in to the Legislature. He had a heart of gold and was a true Texas patriot,” said Perry in a 2006 interview with the Houston Chronicle.

In the next installment we will highlight the legacy and accomplishments of Frank Madla Jr.

About the Authors

Josiah Cuellar
Josiah Cuellar is a communications senior at Texas A&M University-San Antonio. After working in news in San Angelo, Texas Cuellar learned the basics of sports videography where he learned about creative freedom and creative control. This inspired him to create more on his own, working in all aspects of Flip Flop Productions, a collective he started with fellow A&M-San Antonio students.
Aaron Perez
Aaron Perez, a senior communicationsmajor at Texas A&M-San Antonio, has served as a photojournalist for the campus’ online news outlet and will serve as a reporter for the fall 2017 semester. During the spring 2017 semester, Aaron helped co-found the Radio Television Digital News Association student chapter at A&M-San Antonio, where he currently serves as Vice President. Aaron is also a member of the National Society of Leadership and Success. Aaron plans to pursue a career in sports broadcasting and hopes to work for Fox Sports 1 or ESPN. In addition to serving as a reporter and student, Aaron enjoys spending his free time serving at his church and working out.
Seth Ruiz
My name is Seth Ruiz, I am a senior communication major with a minor in political science. I am graduating in december 2017. During my spare time, my wife and I attend City Church and I travel and ride my dirt bikes. I explored the real estate investing world over the summer, and I have established that this will be my career when I finish school. I believe regardless of profession being a strong communicator is a plus in any career field.
Marcellius Caviness
I am Marcellius Caviness, a poet who seeks the truth, in order to broadcast that knowledge, to empower “the people,” in a language they can understand. With honesty and integrity, I hope to use writing to speak to “the people” on multiple platforms. I am a third year journalism major with a passion for expression, creativity and the Hip-Hop culture. I wrote for the United Black Student Conference at MiraCosta College in Oceanside, California.

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