Juvenal Gonzalez
He was the 6th child born to Jose Maria Gonzalez Gutierrez de Lara, age 47 at the time, originally from Salinas Hidalgo, Nuevo Leon and his mother, Elfega Morales Arrambide who was 31 old and from Salinas, Victoria, Nuevo Leon. His paternal grandparents were Justo Gonzalez and Luisa Gutierrez, both originally from Guerrero (Revilla), Tamaulipas while her maternal grandparents were Pedro Morales and Petra Arrambide, both from Salinas Victoria.
He resided with his family in a large hacienda next to the town church, Iglesia Parochial de Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe de las Salinas. Their home as well as the church faced Plaza Principal de Salinas Victoria. The family resided at this address until 1915 when they were forced to vacate the home by a fighting faction of the Mexican Revolution of 1910.
The house was reportedly used as a command station thereafter and later destroyed in the fighting between opposing factions. In later years, Juvenal told stories of seeing injured and deceased soldiers in the surrounding areas of Salinas Victoria when he delivered food to soldiers that the residents of Salinas Victoria had prepared for them.
This experience sensitized him to the woes of war. He related his thoughts years later following watching on television Vietnam veterans tell their stories. On December 25, 1912, Juvenal’s father, Jose Maria, who was in the business of transporting goods and passengers, passed away. On August 18, 1915, along with his mother and some of his siblings, he emigrated to the United States, fleeing the Revolution, crossed the footbridge into Laredo, Texas, and arrived at the home of Agustin Gonzalez, his father’s brother.
At the time of entry into the U.S, Juvenal’s age was recorded as 12 years of age with birth on May 3, 1903. However, based on his birth record from Mexico, he was 14 years old and had been born in 1901. It is believed that his mother intentionally said he was younger to prevent any military duty while in Mexico and could emigrate to the U.S.
Juvenal lived in Laredo, Texas, the rest of his life, returning into Mexico only to visit with family who lived there. Three of Juvenal’s siblings died in infancy, and they remained buried in Salinas Victoria, with their father, Jose Maria. A brother who returned to Salinas Victoria due to a medical condition is also buried there in El Panteon Municipal.
Education and Career
Juvenal’s formal education began away from home with a teacher who joined the Revolution and left him on his own. According to Juvenal, an indigenous community took care of him, and he was in their care for about six months when he finally made it back to his family. Following the death of his father, Juvenal was expected to eventually become the family leader. In 1915, upon arrival in Laredo, Texas, at the age of 14 years, Juvenal became his mother’s right hand in managing home finances and resources.
His first job was as a delivery boy for a grocery store, El Niagara; he later advanced to become its manager. In the 1940s, Juvenal opened the Central Lunch Stand which was across the street from Central School. It was said that it was the first eating establishment that offered hamburgers in Laredo. Anticipating being drafted to fight in WWII, Juvenal sold the business before he learned that he had not qualified medically for active duty. He proceeded then to open a full-service restaurant, Juvenal’s Café, at the corner of Convent Street and Zaragosa, a block away from the only bridge crossing then. This restaurant was quite successful, known for its “Chile con carne”.
Due to its proximity to the Bridge, it was frequented by many Customs employees as well as by other customers. In 1950, when the famous singer, Pedro Infante visited Nuevo Laredo and Laredo, Pedro Infante stopped at the restaurant, perhaps to ward off the crowds, had a drink and briefly socialized with Juvenal’s family while crowds of fans looked in through the windows.
Later Juvenal relocated his Café to Iturbide Street, 3 blocks around the corner, because the property of the original restaurant had been sold. While the restaurant at the location had been very successful, the Café at the second location did not do as well and eventually closed. At the time of the closure, there were many unpaid tabs as Juvenal had been lenient about payment, often allowing elders and persons of no means to eat free of charge.
In May 1960, Juvenal opened La Posada Drive-in on Market Street where groceries as well as prepared foods such as burgers, barbeque and barbacoa were sold. In 1968, Juvenal, who was of retirement age and was experiencing health related limitations, decided to close the business. This ended his career in the restaurant/grocery store industry.
Family Life and Marriage
As a young man, Juvenal enjoyed spending time with his siblings and friends. He rode a scooter and enjoyed music. Someone once described him as having been “a lady’s man” as he was an attractive man and well mannered.
Juvenal was close to his siblings and his brothers-in-law, including Solomon Lozano and Virgilio Escutia. Solomon was a part-time musician and Juvenal would at times accompany him when performing. Juvenal was known to play the trumpet, but it is not known if he ever played professionally. Later in life, Juvenal enjoyed listening to conjunto music on the Mexican radio station after the “Loteria” numbers had been called. Juvenal was also very close to Virgilio Escutia, spouse of his sister Hermila. Virgilio Escutia, Jr, related to Juvenal’s daughter, Elena, that his family unit and Juvenal’s family unit were so close that they had been as “One”.
After Juvenal had done his duty to facilitate the marriages of his sisters, he considered marriage for himself. On March 21, 1942, at age 41, he married Cecilia Bocanegra whom he had met at his sister Hermila’s home.
Cecilia had been employed at Hermila’s home assisting with housekeeping and the care of Hermila’s son, Virgilio Jr. known as Hilio. Cecilia had been an orphan at the Sacred Heart Orphanage and upon reaching working age, was hired to help Hermila who was legally blind. Juvenal and Cecilia raised three children, Juvenal Jr, Elena Raquel, and Jaime Eduardo. In the early years of their marriage, Juvenal and Cecilia lived in an apartment in downtown Laredo until they bought a house in the Heights.
Juvenal lived in the home in the Heights with his family until his final years. Since the home property included a large jacal, it was the site of many parties and other events for family members who needed a venue for a celebration. Juvenal traveled occasionally to San Antonio, Texas and to Salinas Victoria, Nuevo Leon, Mexico, to visit family and his only brother, Jose Maria who was mentally impaired. Juvenal also would meet his brother at the Plaza Hidalgo in Nuevo Laredo when Jose Maria was able to catch the train from Salinas Victoria to Nuevo Laredo. Throughout his life, Juvenal ensured that his brother, Jose Maria, had housing, food and care that extended family in Salinas Victoria provided until he passed in 1966.
In retirement, Juvenal walked frequently from the house to Jarvis Plaza in downtown Laredo, where he would meet with other elders to socialize. Sometimes, on Saturdays, he would meet his son, Jaime and a friend, after they had visited a bookstore close by. Juvenal visited Elena and Juvenal Jr. in Houston, Texas often; it was during these visits that he had the opportunity to share information about his years as a younger person and his perspectives on life.
Accomplishments and Recognitions
Juvenal was beloved by his family, extended family and friends. He was known for being a respectful, caring, generous and fair man. He was very much loved by his children who always honored and respected him. They admired his constant pleasant demeanor, his intelligence and wit, his kind and gentle guidance, and his approach that conveyed his belief that no matter what that they were worthy to be treated with dignity and respect.
Juvenal worked very hard and long hours throughout his life to provide for his family and was recognized by family for his devotion and his sense of responsibility. He was described by his wife, Cecilia, before she passed away that Juvenal had been a very good man who had worked very hard all his life. He was also very well esteemed by his employees whom he treated as family and were well known to his spouse and children.
Juvenal was very generous with his resources and shared them with his siblings, friends and even people he did not know well. He helped at least two of his siblings become more self-sufficient by providing the resources to establish small stores (tendajos). On at least one occasion, he financed a trip to Mexico City for several family members while he stayed home to work.
Death and Burial Information
Juvenal passed away September 22, 1975, in Houston, Texas, at the age of 74.
At the time, he was visiting with his son, Juvenal, in Houston, Texas. On this day, his daughter Elena had visited earlier before going to work because he was planning to return to Laredo with his wife and son, Jaime who had gone to Houston and were taking him home.
That morning, Juvenal had a massive heart attack and went by ambulance to Bellare General Hospital where he passed away that evening. The attending doctor related that by all indications Juvenal had had a previous heart attack the year before of which his family was not aware.
Hernandez & Hernandez Funeral Homes collaborated with a funeral home close to Houston, Texas in managing the transportation of the body back to Laredo. Funeral services including mass at Christ the King Church and burial were in Laredo. Juvenal was buried in Calvary Catholic Cemetery near his sister, Hermila Escutia and her husband, Virgilio Escutia.
Juvenal would be joined in burial by his wife, Cecilia in 2020. Juvenal’s funeral was very well attended by family and people he befriended throughout his life. The pall bearers included his nephews, Rolando H. Lozano, Carlos M Ochoa and Armando Sanchez and A.J. Bruni Jr, friend, Raul R Davila, his sister-in-law’s husband and Martin Lopez, his wife’s cousin.
Submitted by: Elena R Gonzalez, 10/23/2023.
