Mario A. Delgado

The Delgado Family and the Community of Kingsville lost an icon. Mario Alaniz Delgado, former KISD educator, Kleberg County Justice of the Peace, and retired Senior Chief Petty Officer, passed away peacefully, at the age of 92 on July 2, 2023, with his family at his side.

Mario raised five children and touched the lives of thousands more through his work as a KISD educator and Justice of the Peace. He established programs in the community that helped underprivileged youth, the elderly, and their families; he turned away no one. If he couldn’t help people directly, he paired them with someone who could. His family and his community were at the center of everything he did. In June of 2023, Mario was inducted into the Kingsville ISD Brahma Hall of Fame.  He loved sports and was a member of the 1947 Wildcats Baseball Team, the King Ranch Cowboys Baseball Team, The Man Shop Softball Team and many others.

In his role as Kleberg County Justice of the Peace, Precinct 2, Judge Delgado heard the cases before his court with a focus on truancy. As a former educator, he believed truancy cases were an opportunity to educate and not simply punish. It was a continuation of an impressive body of work.  As a Senior Chief Petty Officer, in the United States Navy Reserve, Chief Delgado served in the Naval Investigative Service. Because of the nature of his position, little is known about this decades-long stage of his life. 

Mario is preceded in death by the mother of his children, Josie Delgado; and parents, Ambrosio and Aurora Delgado.

Among those left to cherish his memory are his beloved wife of 24 years, Margot Delgado; children, George Delgado, Mario (Sandy) Delgado, Jr., Diana (Joe) Carrizales, Dan (Carrie) Delgado, Joe Henry (Melissa) Delgado, Robert (Dee) Almaraz, John Almaraz, and Nicole (Bryan) Bailey; brother, Valde (Grace) Delgado; 13 grandchildren; 8 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews and extended family.

The family will receive condolences on Friday, July 7, 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, July 8, 2023, at St. Gertrude the Great Catholic Church.  A Rite of Committal and Interment with full military honors will follow at Santa Gertrudis Cemetery.

Honoring Mr. Mario A. Delgado as pallbearers are Mario Delgado, Jr., Dan Delgado, Joe Henry Delgado, Joe Carrizales, John Edward Almaraz, and Bryan Bailey.  

Honorary pallbearers, George Delgado and Valdemar Delgado.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to:

Kingsville ISD Education Foundation
P.O. Box 163
Kingsville, TX 78364.