Antonio manuel fernandez biography

Antonio Manuel Fernández (January 17, 1902 – November 7, 1956) was a United States representative from New Mexico, elected to seven consecutive terms from.
Antonio Manuel Fernández was a United States representative from New Mexico, elected to seven consecutive terms from 1942 to 1956.
Antonio M. Fernández was born in Springer, in northwestern New Mexico, on January 17, 1902, to José Estevan and Maria Anita Fernández.

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FERNÁNDEZ, Antonio M.

Antonio M. Fernández rose from a modest background to become an influential and noteworthy politician. As New Mexico’s longest-serving Representative in the mid-20th century, he tirelessly defended his constituents. While concentrating on issues affecting the military and American Indians—two core groups in his At-Large district—he preferred to stay out of the limelight, focusing on compromise and diligent research. “Political leaders are necessary in our party system of Government,” Fernández once remarked, “but the men chosen by the people to serve in Congress can best do so if when elected they devote their time at their posts without too much regard for their own political fortunes, and certainly without attempting to direct and control the political fortunes of others.”¹

Antonio M. Fernández was born in Springer, in northwestern New Mexico, on January 17, 1902, to José Estevan and Maria Anita Fernández. Educated as a child in a one-room country schoolhouse, Fernández went on to attend New Mexico Normal University (now Highlands) in Las Vegas,

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Antonio M. Fernández

American politician

Antonio Manuel Fernández (January 17, 1902 – November 7, 1956) was a United States representative from New Mexico, elected to seven consecutive terms from 1942 to 1956.

Early life and career

Fernandez was born in Springer, New Mexico, where he attended the public schools, and Highlands University, Las Vegas, New Mexico. He received law training at Cumberland University, Lebanon, Tennessee, and was a court reporter for the eighth judicial district of New Mexico from 1925 to 1930. Later, he was admitted to the bar in 1931 and commenced practice in Raton, New Mexico.

He was the assistant district attorney of the eighth judicial district in 1933 and practiced law in Santa Fe, New Mexico, in 1934.

Political career

Fernández served in the New Mexico House of Representatives in 1935. He was the chief tax attorney for the New Mexico Tax Commission in 1935 and 1936 and the first assistant attorney general from 1937–1941. He was a member of the first New Mexico Public Service Commission in 1941 and 1942.

Congres
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Representative Antonio Manuel Fernández of New Mexico
Image courtesy of Library of CongressAn eight-term Member from New Mexico, Antonio Fernandez chaired the Committee on Memorials during the 79th Congress (1945–1947).
Antonio Manuel Fernández, the fourth Hispanic-American Representative elected to the House from New Mexico, was born on this date. He attended local schools and studied at Highlands University in Las Vegas, New Mexico. Fernández subsequently earned a law degree at Cumberland University in Lebanon, Tennessee, returning to Sante Fe to open a private practice. He also served in a number of prominent positions such as assistant district attorney and in the state assembly. Elected to the 78th Congress(1943–1945) during World War II, Fernández pursued a bold agenda during his freshman term. He lobbied for the rank promotion of prisoners of war in the Pacific Theater, many of whom were New Mexico National Guardsmen. “Promotion,” he declared, “. . . is only a token of the Nation’s gratitude for the valor of all those men who held the Japanese at bay for many months withou