Mateo Camargo

Mateo Camargo was born in Yucatan, Mexico, in 1925. He studied piano and radio technology, and started in show business in a vaudeville act with his wife. The couple toured the nation eventually settling in San Antonio.

In the early 1950s Mateo was hired as an announcer by KCOR Radio, San Antonio’s first Spanish language radio station. He was a popular broadcaster who showcased the music of Latin America… local and national news… and commentary on area politics and civic activities.

Mateo ran a weekly political talk show on KCOR called "Frente al Pueblo" … Face the People. Monday through Friday afternoons his voice reached into thousands of homes where listening to his radio show had become a daily habit for Spanish-speaking listeners.

But Mateo was no ordinary disc jockey. For instance, how many DJs does the City Council meet with to explain an especially controversial issue and try to get him to see it their way? As former City Mayor Henry Cisneros once said, "Mateo can have thousands of little old ladies signing a petition within a few days.”

Mateo received numerous state honors and became so well-loved that following his death in 1982, a committee was formed to improve Pablo’s Grove and rename it, Camargo Park, in his honor.

 

 

 

 

SAN ANTONIO RADIO HALL OF FAME

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