Biography

Filemon Bartolomé Vela Sr. was a distinguished American jurist who served as a federal judge for the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas. Born in Harlingen, Texas, he was the eighth of nine children in his family. His mother, Maria Luisa, passed away when he was eleven years old. His father, Roberto Vela Sr., operated a small grocery store and was a notary public.

Vela was known for his strict courtroom decorum and his compassion, particularly in advocating for youth education and combating the drug trade. He presided over many high-profile cases, including the first lawsuit involving accidents caused by defective Firestone tires and a drug money-laundering case involving some of the nation's largest banks.

Education and Political Experience

• Education:

  • Graduated from Harlingen High School in 1954.
  • Attended Texas Southmost College in Brownsville.
  • Served in the U.S. Army from 1957 to 1959.
  • Earned a Juris Doctor from St. Mary's University School of Law in San Antonio in 1962.

• Political Experience:

  • Served as a city commissioner in Brownsville, Texas, from 1971 to 1973.
  • Elected as a judge of the 107th Judicial District Court for Cameron and Willacy counties, Texas, from 1975 to 1980.
  • Nominated by President Jimmy Carter to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas in 1980, confirmed by the Senate, and served until his death in 2004.

Vela was honored as a Distinguished Alumnus by Texas Southmost College in 1998.