Refugio Benavides

Duane's take

The official marker tells this story, and I'm Duane, passing it along to you. Now, not every man can trace his family roots all the way back to the founding of a city. Refugio Benavides could.

His full name was Jose Del Refugio Benavides, and he was a native of Laredo, born into one of that city's most celebrated families. That family line ran deep, straight back to a man named Tomas Sanchez, who founded Laredo in 1755. That's the ground Refugio Benavides came from.

And he didn't take that legacy lightly. By 1850, he'd been elected to the office of alderman. By 1859, he was mayor.

Laredo was his city, and he was helping shape it. Then came the Civil War, and everything changed on the border. Benavides and his brothers didn't sit it out.

They were active in defenses along the Texas-Mexico border, and Refugio rose to the rank of Captain, commanding a company in the 3rd Texas Cavalry. What he was defending against was no small thing. Union troops were pressing in from one direction, and Mexican raiders led by Juan Cortina were pressing in from another.

The Rio Grande valley was a vital cotton-exporting site for the Confederacy, and Benavides stood in the gap to keep it that way. Then came Reconstruction, and the years that followed were quieter. But not forever.

In 1873, Refugio Benavides was elected mayor of Laredo again. He served three successive terms. And this time, the accomplishments stacked up: improved public schools, city sewage systems, and a revision of the city charter.

A man building something meant to last. He was married twice. He was the father of six children.

He died in 1899 and was buried in the old Catholic cemetery. But here's the thing about Refugio Benavides. Even his resting place has a story.

During World War II, he was reinterred here, on the very ground this marker now stands. A man descended from the founder of Laredo, who served it as alderman and as mayor, who defended its borders in wartime, who came back after Reconstruction and built it back up again. And when the world was once again at war, his remains were brought home to stay.

Some roots just run all the way down.

What the marker says

A native of Laredo, Jose Del Refugio Benavides was a descendant of Tomas Sanchez, who founded the city in 1755. As a member of one of Laredo's most celebrated families, he was instrumental in the city's development during the 19th century. He was elected to the office of alderman in 1850 and mayor in 1859. During the Civil War Benavides and his brothers were active in defenses along the Texas-Mexico border. Rising to the rank of Captain, Refugio Benavides commanded a company in the 3rd Texas cavalry. His actions in defending the border against invasions by union troops and Mexican raiders led by Juan Cortina helped retain the valley's important role as a vital cotton-exporting site for the Confederacy. In 1873, following Reconstruction, Refugio Benavides was again elected mayor of Laredo and served three successive terms. Among the accomplishments of his political career were improved public schools, city sewage systems, and the revision of the city charter. Married twice, Benavides was the father of six children. He died in 1899 and was buried in the old Catholic cemetery. He was reinterred here during World War II. (1990)