#TBT: Corpus Christi’s bilingual newspaper La Verdad sought to fight corruption

Santos de la Paz started La Verdad, Spanish for “the truth,” around 1936, seeking to provide news and commentary in both English and Spanish for the wider South Texas community. Born in Corpus Christi in 1907, de la Paz learned the publishing business working for Eagle Publishing Company. He struck out on his own and started printing La Verdad in a building on Lipan Street before moving to 910 Francesca St. when the Lipan building burned down.

The owner, publisher and editor — often described as “fiery” — used his weekly paper to challenge the political bosses in South Texas. De la Paz was one of the first newspaper editors to attack George B. Parr, who controlled the political machine of Duval County that earned him the nickname Duke of Duval like his father before him. He also spoke out against Bee County Sheriff Vail Ennis, who killed at least eight people during his nine years as sheriff.

De la Paz and his assistant, Joe C. Rodriguez, took politicians to task all around South Texas from Laredo to Corpus Christi. De la Paz even criticized Dr. Hector P. Garcia for recommending a political candidate who de la Paz felt was unqualified for office.

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But outspokenness can have its price. In a United Press syndicated article in August 1954, de la Paz told the reporter, “I have a great many political enemies,” when asked about an incident of suspected arson at his newspaper offices. De la Paz was also sued for libel twice, and jailed for one charge. A Webb County jury found him guilty for libeling Laredo attorney and political leader Manuel J. Raymond, but on appeal the case was settled with a guilty plea from de la Paz, a $100 fine and a printed apology.

De la Paz also served as chair of Precinct 76 for more than 35 years, and as a member of the executive committee of the Latin American Press Association.

When interviewed in 1989, de la Paz had turned his business over to his daughter, Adell, and son, Santos Jr. He talked of his many years in publishing, taking issue with anyone who he thought was “taking the public for a ride.”

He didn’t always name names, he told Caller-Times reporter Spencer Pearson, “but when I pointed my finger, they knew who I was talking about.”

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When de la Paz died at 83 on March 18, 1990, his longtime friend and collaborator Rodriguez eulogized the fiery editor in his obituary.

“It would take me forever to enumerate the many episodes in which De la Paz risked his life in his obsession to eradicate racial discrimination and corruption in all levels of government. I will only say that he was one-of-a-kind.”

Allison Ehrlich writes about things to do in South Texas and has a weekly Throwback Thursday column on local history.

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This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: South Texas bilingual newspaper La Verdad sought to fight corruption