Alberto "Beto" Maldonado

Alberto "Beto" Maldonado, passed away peacefully on Friday April 28, 2023, in Kingsville, TX. He was born in Kingsville, TX to Librado and Ella B Maldonado. Alberto was a life-long employee of the King Ranch where he dedicated 80 years until 2020. He worked in the single and multiple sire herd division "Beto" was able to travel the world introducing the Santa Gertrudis Breed of Cattle and featuring them at different venues including parading his 2900lb bull, Macho, through the Dallas-Ft. Worth airport, taking 21 bulls by aircraft to Casablanca in Morocco and showing bulls in Montreal, Canada.

After his retirement, he went to work for the tourist center.

He enjoyed working as a tour guide, where he met so many wonderful people from all over the world. He was able to do VIP tours that included the likes of Prince Albert of Monaco. As the years went on, he continued to work at the Tourist Center a few days a week talking with the visitors about the King Ranch and sharing all his life adventures; he truly enjoyed this time and sharing all his stories.

In 2009, with the help of two authors he was able to publish a biography of he and his father's life and legacy "The Master Showmen of the King Ranch: The Story of Beto and Librado Maldonado" The book was featured at the Texas Book Festival in Austin, TX in 2010, where Beto was able to make a special speaking engagement and autograph book; the book is still available around the world today.

He is preceded in death by his wife of 67 years, Dora Ruiz Maldonado; son, Albert Maldonado; daughter, Catalina Maldonado; parents, Librado and Ella B Maldonado; sisters, Alicia Maldonado, Aurora Perez, and Amelia Alvarado; and brothers, Placido and Lee Maldonado.

Alberto "Beto" is survived by his daughters, Dora (Joe T.) Garcia and Norma (Onesimo) Quintanilla; son, Samuel (JoAnne) Maldonado; grandchildren, Sonia (Matt) Due, Veronica (Arturo) Salas, Samantha Garcia, Mario (Neri) Quintanilla, Monica Quintanilla, Tracy (Kyle) Logan, and Daniel Yaklin; great-grandchildren, Andres and Makayla Castillo, Dylyn Matthew Due, Carlos and Samuel Salas, Landon and Kinley Logan, Caroline and Finn Yaklin, Lorraine Rodriguez, Tre and Molly Quintanilla; great-great grandchildren, Mylah and Liam Hernandez.

The family will receive condolences on Friday, May 5, 2023, from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Turcotte-Piper Mortuary; with a holy rosary to be recited at 7:00 p.m. A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 6, 2023, at St. Gertrude the Great Catholic Church. A Rite of Committal and Interment will follow at Chamberlain Cemetery.