EL PASO -- Raymond L. Telles, El Paso's first Hispanic elected mayor who was later appointed ambassador to Costa Rica, died Friday in California where he had been living with a daughter, his family said. He was 97. Before his election, Anglos had dominated El Paso politics.
Mr. Telles also served four terms as El Paso County clerk.He was mayor from 1957 to 1961 and afterward was named envoy to Costa Rica by President John F. Kennedy, for whom he became a close adviser."As the Hispanic population of this country continues to grow, Ambassador Telles will surely be recognized as one of the founding fathers of contemporary Latino politics in the United States," his biographer Mario T. Garcia told the El Paso Times.Have more to add? News tip? Tell us
