(Staff photo by Ray Quiroga)
San Benito Memories
Judge Oscar De La Fuente Sr. was born in San Benito on July 8, 1929, later attending Fred Booth Elementary in San Benito and graduating from San Benito High School in 1950.
Upon graduating from high school and answering his country’s call to duty, he took part in the Korean War. He saw active duty as a tank commander with the US Army’s 224 Regiment 40th Division, earning his combat infantry badge. He was honorably discharged in 1953 as a sergeant.
After fulfilling his military obligations, he worked at Wilson’s Supermarket and later went into business with his brother, Joe. They opened Joe and Oscar’s Food Store in 1962 and operated the store for 32 years.
Judge De La Fuente began his duties as a public servant in 1972 when he was first elected to the San Benito CISD Board of Trustees. He served on the board for a 12-year period, serving as President for five years and was the first Hispanic/Latino elected to serve as President of the San Benito CISD Board of Trustees in 1974.
He continued serving as board President in 1975, 1976, 1977, and again, in 1980.
He was especially proud of his service on the board, realizing its importance and seeing that the children of the San Benito area received, what he deemed, a first-rate education to ensure their future.
Judge De La Fuente was elected to serve as a Justice of the Peace in 1984, an office he held until his retirement at the end of 2004. He was a member of the St. Theresa Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus, Kiwanis Club, and Catholic War Veterans.
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