HOUSTON – Houston’s former city councilman and community leader Felix Fraga has died. He was 94.
Fraga’s family confirmed with KPRC 2 that he died of natural causes in hospice.
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He was a product of Houston’s Second Ward and through the years his name and face became synonymous with the neighborhood in Houston’s East End.
Born in October of 1929, Fraga attended Rusk Elementary, Marshall Junior High, and Jeff Davis High School before entering the University of Houston, where he played Cougar baseball. Having already worked at his local community center as a teen, Fraga chose to pursue his master’s degree in social work, a move that would shape the rest of his life.
In 1946, Fraga began working at the Rusk Settlement, which eventually became the Kirkland-Ripley Community Center.
He worked continuously for Neighborhood Centers, including serving as center manager of Ripley House Community Center from 1970 to 1990, and then as vice president of external relations for Neighborhood Centers Inc.
Following years of community service, local politics called.
In an interview with KPRC 2 in 2012, Fraga said he never thought he was going to get elected into office by working at neighborhood centers or through social work.
He served as a Houston Independent School District board member from 1990 to 1994 and as District H representative on Houston City Council from 1994 to 1999.
Serving on numerous volunteer boards and committees, Fraga’s accolades and awards are lengthy.
Fraga was honored for his community service throughout his illustrious career, including a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Houston Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers, the Metro Salute to Hispanic Families, and the Community Service Award by the Mexican American Bar Association, which he shared with two of his brothers, Lupe and Angel Fraga.
In December 2011, the Houston Community College Board of Trustees named the HCC campus at 301 Drennan Street the “Felix Fraga Academic Campus.”
The campus, in association with HISD’s Leonel Castillo Academic Center, represented the cooperation and teamwork of HCC and HISD for an innovative approach to early college high school and dual credit pursuits for high school students in the Second Ward.
In 2016, Fraga was the recipient of the Mayor’s Hispanic Heritage Lifetime Achievement Award for his dedication towards preserving and making contributions for the betterment of Houston’s Latino community.
Fraga’s son, Bo, sent KPRC 2 the following statement regarding his father’s passing:
“We are deeply saddened by the passing of my father, Felix Fraga, and at the same time, immensely grateful to have shared in the beautiful life he led in service to others. He was a husband, father, father-in-law, grandfather, brother, brother-in-law, uncle, athlete, community leader, and servant of the people. A social worker by profession, he lived out his vocation working at Neighborhood Centers Inc./Baker Ripley, where he began as a youth worker in 1946 at the age of 16. He never actually retired, remaining dedicated to community work till the very end.
“His service also extended into public office, as an HISD Trustee and Houston City Council Member in the 1990s. Additionally, he gave of himself to many community and civic organizations, serving on various boards and committees. A tireless champion for justice and a better life for all, he never ceased to smile. That smile brought joy and peace to all who encountered him. He had unconditional love for all people, and so, touched the lives of many. He will be greatly missed. We are very thankful for the outpouring of support and love we have received via phone calls, texts, and social media messages. Thank you, Houston, for loving my dad.”
Funeral arrangements have not yet been released.