Hunting Pioneers

HUGO BERLANGA

By Jason Shipman

Editor's note: This is the twenty-eighth in a series of pioneers to be recognized for their contributions, past and present, to Texas hunting.

Hugo Berlanga is a pioneer of our hunting heritage. Hugo worked his way to the top and used his position and influence to do good for the people. He’s a champion for coastal fisheries, private property rights, deer breeders, and wildlife in general. As a career politician, he has helped make a difference and has left a legacy for others to learn from and follow.

Born in Robstown in 1948, Hugo grew up in nearby Corpus Christi. After high school, he served in the Army Reserves. In 1970 he married the love of his life, Laura M. Garza of Corpus Christi, and together they have one son, Omar Hugo Berlanga. Hugo earned an Associate of Arts degree from Del Mar College in 1971 and a Bachelor of Science in education from Texas A&I University-Kingsville in 1973.

In 1975, Hugo was elected to the Texas House of Representatives and by his fourth term, he was appointed Speaker Pro Tempore, becoming the highest level Hispanic elected state official since the Texas Republic. “Speaker Gib Lewis and I forged a bond working closely together during the epic real estate and oil crashes of the mid 1980s,” Hugo said. “All our institutions from universities to health care were on the line. With Gov. Bill Clements, we enacted the state’s largest ever tax bill and no one lost their seat because of it.”

Throughout his career, he served on the House Ways and Means Committee, Elections Committee, as chairman of the Calendars Committee, chairman of the Public Health Committee, and chairman of the Mexican American Caucus. The list of landmark legislation resulting from his efforts is quite impressive. Hugo worked for passage of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Uniform Wildlife Code and co-authored and secured passage of the landmark Redfish Conservation Act. He also worked to secure passage of the agricultural exemption for wildlife management. Considered one of his greater ac-

Former state representatives Hugo Berlanga has been a wildlife conservation advocate.

Hugo is a longtime friend of TTHA founder Jerry Johnston. “He’s always been there when we needed him,” Jerry said.

complishments, Hugo authored the Coastal Management Program, a federally led and funded partnership dedicated to protection and restoration of over eight million acres of Texas’ coastal zone as a national priority.

Hugo’s long, and illustrious career included awards and accolades too numerous to list. He was named to Texas Monthly magazine’s Ten Best Legislators list for three consecutive sessions. Under his leadership as chairman of the Public Health Committee, he was described in Texas Monthly as “a power base for the public good.”

He would later be named to their Ten Best Hall of Fame Legislators list. Many awards from other organizations followed, including those for Legislator of the Year, Outstanding Legislative Achievement, and Distinguished Legislative Service.

In the wildlife arena, he was named the First Honorary Life Member of the Texas Wildlife Association and inducted into the Muy Grande Hall of Fame. Hugo retired from the House of Representatives in 1997 and founded Berlanga Business Consultants to provide government affairs services to special interest groups and non-profits.

Family and his Mustang Ranch in Duval County continue to occupy his free time. Along with his wife and son, they have transformed Mustang Ranch into a premier hunting and outdoor photography destination. The ranch and its successful wildlife program have been acknowledged with several awards as well. “I enjoy my quality family time at the ranch. I like being outdoors hunting and fishing with my son, Omar. I really enjoy hunting in general. Name the game, I like it all,” he said.

Hugo has hunted throughout Texas for a variety of game including but not limited to dove, quail, turkey, deer, and nilgai. He also enjoys inshore coastal fishing for trout and redfish during the offseason.

With a remarkably successful and lengthy political career under his belt, Hugo has an extensive network of friends and associates and as such, he throws a mighty big loop. He’s a friend to Texas Trophy Hunters, and arguably through his work, a friend to all Texans. He and Jerry Johnston go way back. Jerry is among the many who are appreciative of Hugo’s efforts in the legislature, and recalled, “Hugo has gone to battle for us many times. Back in the day, he would get up to speak and start shaking that fist. He has always been there when we needed him!”

Hugo has been an advocate for the conservation of wildlife and habitat in Texas including Deepwater Horizon coastal restoration today. “I made it my personal mission to help protect wildlife, habitat, and the bay systems. I simply want future generations to be able to enjoy the outdoors as I have,” he said. “While Texas is plenty tough, a lot of our wildlife isn’t. How much fresh water will reach the coast when population reaches 50 million by 2036? We have to treat that as a right-now issue.”

We need folks like Hugo in office now more than ever. We owe him a debt of gratitude for his lasting efforts to protect our interests while serving in a legislative capacity. Because of his service and hard work, we are honored to acknowledge Hugo Berlanga as a pioneer of our hunting heritage.

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Photos courtesy of Blake Barnett.

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