As part of Hispanic Heritage Month, NBC DFW is giving you a closer look at some of the Hispanic Americans and Latinos who have helped shape Texas history.
►JOSE' ANTONIO NAVARRO
Navarro County is named after Jose' Antonio Navarro. The Texas State Historical Association said Navarro pushed for Texas statehood as early as 1835. The San Antonio native also helped write our state's first constitution. In 1846, Navarro County was named after him for his contributions to Texas over the years.
►ANITA N. MARTINEZ
In 1969, Dallas native Anita N. Martinez became the first Hispanic woman elected to the Dallas City Council, a first for a major U.S. city. Her efforts helped bring development to West Dallas.
Later she established the Anita N. Martinez Ballet Folklorico. The dance company displays the stories and heritage of different regions of Mexico.
►ROSE MARINE THEATER
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The Rose Marine Theater sits on Fort Worth's Northside along Main Street. It began showing Spanish language movies in the 1920s. After three name changes and restoration, the 254-seat theater is now home to Fort Worth's only Hispanic theater company.
►LITTLE MEXICO, DALLAS
Some of you may live, work or eat in Uptown Dallas. From 1910 until the 1960s, much of that area was known as "Little Mexico." It was the area many Mexican immigrants settled to be near Dallas' burgeoning factory and railroad jobs.
The Pike Park Recreation Center and its famous gazebo are two structures that remain from that era. The buildings hosted many celebrations for the Hispanic community and community meetings.
►DR. CATALINA E. GARCIA
In the 1960's, Dr. Catalina E. Garcia became one of the first Hispanic women to graduate from UT Southwestern Medical School. The anesthesiologist said being treated by a woman doctor in her hometown of El Paso inspired her to pursue medicine.
