Happy Birthday Lionel Aron Peña

Happy Birthday to Dear Old Dad. The old man has done a lot of things. I've written some of them down so that I can remember them:

Lionel Aron Peña:

Personal History:
• Born October 16, 1935 in Elsa (Engelman Gardens)
• Family:
o Parents: Baltazar Peña, and Guadalupe Perez (Peña)
o Sister: Irma Idalia Peña (died at 2, buried at Anahuac cemetery), Maria Alberta
o Brothers: Baltazar Romeo, Heraldo Heberto, Rolando (died at age 3, buried Anahuac cemetery ), Manuel Rolando, Manuel Roel
o 6 Children
 Lionel Aron Peña, Jr.
 John Eric Peña
 Evie Peña
 Mark Peña
 Jeff Peña
 Louis Dominic Peña
o 25 Grandchildren
o 5 Great-Grandchildren
o Has been married since August 22, 1958 (August 22, 2008 was Golden Anniversary)
• Hobbies: tennis, theatre arts, travel, cycling

Education:
• Edcouch-Elsa High School
o Graduated 1954
o Valedictorian
o Student Council President
• Joined National Guard in 1953
o Rose to rank of Sergeant
o Served in tank company and 36 regiment, headquarters company Austin TX
• University of Texas Pan-American (UTPA)
o Graduated 1957 with honors
o President of Pre-Law Society
• University of Texas Law School
o 1957-60
o Moot Court Competition in Law School
o John Hay Whitney fellow 2nd year Fellowship
o When in law school, lived at 1601 Neches (now Centennial Park)

Law Career:
• After law school, moved to Edinburg and joined Rankin, Kilgore, Cherry, and Martinez
• Started Peña and Leopold in 1962, which eventually became Peña, McDonald, Prestia, and Ornelas.
• Was attorney for Edinburg Hospital from 1970-90
• In 1972, became Edinburg City Attorney for 15 years
• In 1975, became Edinburg Consolidated School District Attorney for 15 years

Civil Service:
• Co-Step board member from 1975-Today
• President of Lion's club (40 yrs as member)
• Past President for Edinburg Jaycee's (1961)
• Edinburg City Comm. (1963)
• Edinburg Chamber of Commerce President (1976)
• Served 6 years as Mayor Protem (1965)
• President of Corpus Christi Diocesan Council of Catholic Men (1965-67)