Judge Albert Armendariz, Sr., 88, passed away on October 4, 2007. He practiced law in El Paso for 57 years, until shortly before his death. He also served as a Federal Immigration Judge and a Justice of the Eighth Judicial District Court of Appeals in El Paso. In addition to his distinguished law career and his reputation as a pioneer and activist for civil rights, Judge Armendariz was a devoted family man and much-loved member of the El Paso community. Judge Armendariz was born and raised in El Paso, Texas. He graduated from El Paso High School in 1937 and was named their Outstanding-Ex in 1967. During World War II, he served as a Sergeant in the Army stationed at Fort Bliss. He attended the Texas College of Mines (now UTEP). He received his law degree from the University of Southern California in 1950, and in 1999 was awarded the University's Community Service Award. The myriad of honors, awards, and community services achieved throughout his life were countless, and include being National President and Vice-President and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC); founding member, past National President and Board Member of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund (MALDEF), who honored him with a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2004; founding member the Mexican-American Bar Association (MABA) and recipient of their 2005 Outstanding Member Award; service to the Texas State Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, El Paso Civil Service Commission, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Chamizal National Memorial Foundation, El Paso Community Chest, El Paso Tenement Board, El Paso County Parole Board, El Paso County Child Welfare Board, El Paso Diocesan School Board, and many others. In 1999, he was named a Texas Legend. He is a recipient of the Bronze Award by President Lyndon B. Johnson for the formulation of the Chamizal Treaty. He is also a recipient of the Conquistador Award, the highest honor bestowed by the City of El Paso. The Texas Bar Association honored him in 2005 with the Outstanding 50 Year Lawyer Award. The El Paso Bar Association honored him last year with the inaugural Albert Armendariz Award. In May 2007, he was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award in Civil Rights by the Paso Del Norte Civil Rights Project. In September of this year, LULAC awarded him a Lifetime Achievement Award. Judge Armendariz is survived by his spouse, Maria Jauregui Armendariz. He was preceded in death by his first wife of 54 years and the mother of his six children, Mary Lou Armendariz, in 1993. Six of his siblings predeceased him; he is survived by his brother, Manuel Armendariz and wife, Velia. He is also survived by his six children, Albert Armendariz, Jr., also a practicing attorney in El Paso, and his wife, Virginia; Eddie Armendariz and wife, Suzanne, Letty Robert and husband, John Robert, Sr., John Armendariz, Mary Lou ("Lulu") Contreras and husband, Juan Contreras, and Larry Armendariz and wife, Karyn. He is also survived by his three step-sons, Jose Martin Salazar and wife, Maria Antonieta, Adrian Salazar and wife, Vicky, and Rommel Alvarado and wife, Cardha. His grandchildren include Michelle Armendariz, Rachel Aguilar, Ana Silva, John Robert, Jr., Albert Robert, Miguel Armendariz, Paul Armendariz, Amorita Armendariz, Susana Contreras, Adriana Contreras, Rebecca Armendariz, Jessica Armendariz, Nicholas Armendariz, Marissa Armendariz, Amy Armendariz, Anthony Armendariz, Adrian Salazar, Jr., Leslie Salazar, Isiaigh Salazar, and Fernanda Salazar. Great grandchildren are Luis Felipe, Anelisa, and Emma Lucia Silva, Georgia and Madelyn Aguilar, and Jazmin and Dezi Robert. Pallbearers will be John, Jr. and Albert Robert, Miguel and Paul Armendariz, Rudy Aguilar, Ray Molina, Rudy and Luis Felipe Silva. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Cathedral High School Center for Advanced Studies, 1309 N. Stanton, El Paso, Texas, 79902. Visitation will be at Hillcrest Funeral Home, 5054 Doniphan, on Wednesday, October 10th, from 2:00 to 9:00 p.m. Vigil Service will be at 7:00 p.m. at Hillcrest Chapel. Funeral Mass will be held on Thursday, October 11th at 10:30 a.m. at St. Patrick Cathedral. Interment will be in Mount Carmel Cemetery.
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