Longtime Commissioner Zeke Cavazos dies at 64

RAYMONDVILLE — Friends yesterday remembered longtime City Commissioner Ezequiel “Zeke” Cavazos as a loving father and community leader who gave much of his life to his hometown.

Cavazos died Monday night after a battle with cancer.

He was 64.

Cavazos, a former principal of Myra Green Middle School, served on the City Commission since 2001.

“If you’re a city commissioner for 16 years, you’ve got to be doing something right,” Mayor Gilbert Gonzales said yesterday.

A volunteer firefighter, Cavazos was re-elected to a fifth term last May.

“He was the picture the model of what a dad should be,” Robert Cavazos, his son, said yesterday.

“He taught me a lot — how to be a good man, a good father, how to care for other people and how to be a servant to your community,” he said.

“He was really a model human being to every life he touched as far as showing love, support, selflessness,” he said.

A graduate of Texas A&I University, Cavazos served much of his career as a school teacher.

“He wore a lot of hats,” his son said. “He was an artist, a musician, principal, teacher and city commissioner.”

Commissioner Clifton Smith remembered Cavazos’ love for his community.

“He was a great friend of mine and a great asset to the city and the whole community,” said Smith, who served with Cavazos since he won election in 2001. “He had the citizens of Raymondville first on his list. He was very hands-on, very involved in the city functions. When there were special boards, he’d volunteer to serve.”

City Manager Eleazar Garcia remembered Cavazos’ joyful spirit and dedication to his community.

“Commissioner Cavazos was a friend to me and my family,” Garcia said. “He was a great guy. Everybody loved Zeke. He was a happy guy who lent a hand when someone needed something.”