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Raul Ramiro Barrera more popularly known as Roy R. Barrera, Sr. was born to Steve E. Barrera and Rosaura Cantu Barrera in San Antonio, Texas on Sunday, January 30, 1927. He had an older sister Alicia and an older brother Steve welcoming him on the day of his birth. He was followed soon after by his younger brother Gilbert. As a young child, he was ever industrious taking on odd jobs in the neighborhood, collecting bottles for deposit, selling ice cream popsicles from an ice chest he pulled on a wagon, setting up pins in a bowling alley and delivering newspapers. Having lived and grown up at 1134 Morales Street, flanked on four sides by San Antonio College, downtown San Antonio, Woodlawn Lake and Avenida Guadalupe his neighborhood was interesting and varied. One of his favorite playgrounds was the I & GN rail station built in 1907. The Chief, a bronze Indian statute was installed on top, it kept him captivated throughout his youth. He attended James Bowie, San Fernando Catholic School, Juan Seguin and Margil Elementary schools, Washington Irving Junior School and San Antonio Vocational and Technical School where he met the love of his life, Carmen Zendejas. During his senior year of High School, on Halloween night, he asked Carmen if she would go “steady” with him and she responded with “I’ll think about it.” That invitation was the beginning of a loving and respectful relationship that would last over 70 years. After high school graduation in 1944 he entered the U.S. Army and served in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater receiving two overseas service bars and a good conduct medal. Roy was honorably discharged from the 6th Infantry Division at Fort Sam Houston on December 4th, 1946. Shortly after his discharge he and his father had plans to open an auto mechanics garage and had already signed a lease on the building, but his mother convinced him to utilize the G.I. Bill and apply for admission to St. Mary’s University School of Law. He did so and earned his JD on May 24th, 1951. And as they say, the rest is history. Roy entered the Bexar County District Attorney’s office under Austin F. Anderson and Hubert W. Green, Jr. The only opening in the office was as an investigator, a position he thoroughly enjoyed! He sometimes took his compadres out to investigate cases or look for reluctant witnesses. They often ventured into questionable neighborhoods where he asked them to ride along “just in case”. They asked “just in case what?” He replied “just in case I get shot!” He laughed heartily over their exclamations… Such was his sense of humor…. Roy later served as a misdemeanor prosecutor and eventually earned his Chief prosecutor status in the Felony Courts. It was during this time that he argued before the Supreme Court of the United States. The appeal was from the conviction on a murder case that he had tried. He was only 28 years of age. On August 15th, 1957 he formed the partnership of Nicholas and Barrera with his prosecutorial partner, Anthony Nicholas. The agreement was made on a “hand shake” and never needed any agreement reduced to writing. Such was their respect for each others honesty and integrity. He and “Nic” served fully and faithfully in this partnership for over 54 years when such partnership only was dissolved as a result of the death of Nic on May 7th, 2011. During that entire partnership, Sylvia Madero was his only secretary and bookkeeper. During his legal career he was admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court, United States Court of Appeals for the 5th and 10th Circuits and the United States District Courts for the Western, Northern and Southern Districts of Texas. In 1968, Roy served as the first Hispanic Secretary of State appointed by then Governor John Connally. He served as the first Hispanic President of the San Antonio Bar Association in 1973 and was a State Bar of Texas Foundation Fellow until his death. Roy was a member of the first class of attorneys certified in Criminal Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. He continued such certified membership for over 50 years. He tried criminal jury trials well into his nineties. He “objected” to the dismissal of one of his murder cases which he had hoped to try on his 90th birthday. Roy was the recipient of many honors and awards during his lifetime and was published in numerous books and periodicals. His legal treatises and commentaries are included in the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, D.C. Suffice to say, he was considered by many fellow attorneys as a Legal Legend. Just as importantly, he had a reputation as a consummate gentleman who was always polite and courteous to fellow attorneys and courtroom personnel. Despite his numerous career achievements, Roy said that his greatest honor and privilege was his marriage in 1948 to his high school sweetheart Carmen and the subsequent births of their five children. In June of 1949, when Carmen was pregnant with their first child, Roy was in his first year of Law School. He was set to graduate in 1951. He would go to school, then to work, then to the Santa Rosa Hospital to visit his wife. As no air conditioning existed in the hospital at the time, Roy would go out on the fire escape outside Carmen’s room to study. His ability to balance school, work and homelife was extraordinary. Such dedication and commitment to his numerous responsibilities was the key to his successful career and family life. Roy and Carmen celebrated 67 years of marriage until her death on February 22nd, 2015. They were blessed with their 5 children, Yolanda, Roy Jr., (wife Sally) Gilbert, Carmen Alice (husband Ricky) and Bobby (wife Karen) and their 12 grandchildren and 22 great grandchildren. Roy’s legal career and reputation was legendary throughout the State of Texas. The Staff at the San Antonio Bar Association has graciously allowed the publication of the below link to their very own publication of the career accomplishments of Roy R Barrera, Sr.: The Barrera family wishes to extend their sincerest gratitude and thanks to the San Antonio Community for the outpouring of condolences and prayers extended to them during this very difficult time. They are grateful as well to their friends and colleagues, the San Antonio Bar Association, the State Bar of Texas, the Secretary of State’s office and the Texas Board of Legal Specialization for the highest praise, merits, recognitions, acknowledgments and credits they have bestowed upon their father during his professional career. In lieu of flowers, your donation to the Roy R. Barrera, Sr. Scholarship Fund at St. Mary’s University School of Law would be deeply appreciated.

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Roy Ramiro Barrera Sr.

January 30, 1927 - March 15, 2026