Join me in McAllen, Texas for a fascinating conversation with Kika del la Garza and his wife Lucille. Kika de la garza served for 14 years as a Texas State Representative followed by 32 years as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives. When he was elected to the Texas House of Representatives he was the sole Hispanic member. Following six consecutive terms in Austin, de la Garza was elected as a democrat to the US House of representatives from the 15th District. His congressional career spanned 32 years, from 1965 through 1997 serving the 89th through the 104th congressional sessions In 1976 del La Garza became a founding member of the Hispanic Congressional Cuacus where he served as chairman from 1989 to 1991. He became the first Hispanic since 1917 to chair a standing committee in the House when he was elected chairman of the committee on Agriculture—serving from 1981 to 1994. Close to home in the Rio Grande Valley in Texas, de la garza is revered as being instrumental in Securing Federal Funding for the Valley wildlife refuges that have become world-renowned destinations nautralists and avid bird watchers. For further information: www.mcallenchamber.com Click on the Media Player below to listen to the “Journeys of Discovery with Tom Wilmer” NPR.ORG Podcast interview with Kika de la Garza.