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{{Short description|American politician (1919–1987)}}
'''Abraham Kazen, Jr.,''' usually known as '''Chick Kazen''' (January 17, 1919—November 29, 1987) was a ] from ] from 1967-1985. He was born in ], the seat of ] in ].


{{Infobox officeholder
He would always be at the United States House of Representatives. He loved being there, but it more was like work to him than fun. People were not welcoming there. Not anyone would say hello.
| image name = Abraham Kazen.jpg
==Education==
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1919|1|17}}
A lifelong Laredo resident, Kazen graduated in 1937 from Laredo High School (renamed ]). He then attended the ] at ] from 1937-1940. In 1941, Kazen graduated from the ] in ] (since removed to ]).
| birth_place = ], U.S.
| death_date={{death date and age|1987|11|29|1919|1|17}}
| death_place=], U.S.
| resting_place=Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Laredo, Texas
| state = ]
| district = ]
| termstart =January 3, 1967
| termend=January 3, 1985
| preceded = New established district
| succeeded =]
|office2 =Member of the ] from the 21st district
|term_start2 = 1953
|term_end2 = 1967
|predecessor2 =William A. Shofner
|successor2 = ]
|office3 =Member of the ] from the 75th district
|term_start3 =1947
|term_end3 =1953
|preceded3 =
|succeeded3 =
| party = ]
| spouse =Connie Raymond
| children =5
| relations=] (nephew)
| occupation= ]
| residence= Laredo, Texas
| alma_mater= ]<br>]
|allegiance= {{flag|United States}}
|branch=]
|battles=], ], and ] in ]
|rank=]
| footnotes=
}}


'''Abraham Kazen Jr.''', usually known as '''Chick Kazen''' (January 17, 1919 &ndash; November 29, 1987), was a ] from ], the first to serve in that particular position. Elected in 1966, Kazen served until 1985, having been defeated in the 1984 ] ] by ].
==Military service==
He served as a ] pilot at ] in 1942, and during ] he served in ], ], and ] as a pilot in Troop Carrier Command. He was discharged with the rank of captain in 1953.


==Public Service== == Background ==
He served in the ], 1947-1953, and was elected to the ] in 1952. He served continuously for fourteen years through 1966 and was elected president pro tempore of the State Senate in 1959. He served as Acting ] on August 4, 1959, and he was a member of the Texas Legislative Council for sixteen years. He was succeeded in the state Senate by his fellow ] ] of ] in ], a brother of ] ]


Kazen was of ] ] descent, and was related to the powerful ] family. He was a lifelong resident of the border city of ]. He graduated in 1937 from Laredo High School, renamed ]. He then attended the ] at ] from 1937 to 1940. In 1941, Kazen graduated from the ] in ], ], since removed to ], ].
He was elected to Congress as a Democrat in 1966 to representing the newly-created 23rd District, which stretches across eight hundred road miles and two time zones--from ] in the west to ] in the east. It had been created when Texas' previous congressional map was thrown out by '']''. He was reelected eight more times, having faced no serious challengers.


== Military service ==
In 1984, Kazen's opponent in the Democratic primary was ], a ] circuit court judge. By this time, the 23rd had become a majority-Hispanic district. In part due to the demographic changes in the district, Bustamante upset Kazen in the primary. To date, Kazen is the last white Democrat to have represented a significant portion of San Antonio in the U.S. House.


Kazen served in 1942 as a ] pilot at the since closed ]. During ], Kazen fought in ], ], and ] as a pilot in Troop Carrier Command. He was discharged in 1953 with the rank of ].
Kazen was of ] descent. He retired to Laredo after his defeat. He was an ] of ] ] of Laredo. He died in Austin and is buried in the Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Laredo.


== Public service ==
] campus is named for the former congressman.</font size=2>]]
In 1946, Kazen was elected to the ] and served from 1947 to 1953. He then served in the ] from 1953 to 1967, and was elected president pro tempore of the State Senate in 1959. He served as acting ] on August 4, 1959. He was a member of the Texas Legislative Council for sixteen years.


He was elected to Congress as a Democrat in 1966 representing the newly created 23rd District. It was the largest congressional district in area in the nation (excluding at-large districts encompassing whole states), stretching across 800 miles from ] in the west to ] in the east. It had been created when Texas' previous congressional map was thrown out by the ] in the case '']''. He was reelected eight more times with no substantive opposition.
Kazen is honored through the naming of the Kazen Center, the student union building, at ], Abraham Kazen Middle School, in San Antonio, Texas; and Kazen Elementary School, in Laredo, Texas.


In 1984, Kazen's opponent in the Democratic primary was ] Circuit Court Judge ]. By this time, the 23rd had become a majority-Hispanic district. Due in part to the demographic changes in the district, Bustamante upset Kazen in the primary, ending Kazen's 39 years as an elected official. After Kazen's defeat, no non-Hispanic white Democrat represented a significant portion of San Antonio in the House until ] had his ]-based district redrawn to include a section of San Antonio.
==External links==

*{{findagrave|18151}} Retrieved on ]
], ]]]
] campus</span>]]

==See also==
*]

==References==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{CongBio|K000025}}
* {{C-SPAN|1000508}}

{{Portalbar|Biography|Texas|Law|Politics|Christianity}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-par|us-hs}}
{{US House succession box
| state=Texas
| district=23
| before=New District
| years=1967–1985
| after=]}}
{{s-end}}

{{authority control}}


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Latest revision as of 23:36, 7 December 2024

American politician (1919–1987)
Abraham Kazen
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Texas's 23rd district
In office
January 3, 1967 – January 3, 1985
Preceded byNew established district
Succeeded byAlbert Bustamante
Member of the Texas State Senate from the 21st district
In office
1953–1967
Preceded byWilliam A. Shofner
Succeeded byWayne Connally
Member of the Texas House of Representatives from the 75th district
In office
1947–1953
Personal details
Born(1919-01-17)January 17, 1919
Laredo, Texas, U.S.
DiedNovember 29, 1987(1987-11-29) (aged 68)
Austin, Texas, U.S.
Resting placeCalvary Catholic Cemetery in Laredo, Texas
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseConnie Raymond
RelationsGeorge P. Kazen (nephew)
Children5
Residence(s)Laredo, Texas
Alma materUniversity of Texas at Austin
Cumberland School of Law
OccupationAttorney
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/serviceArmy Air Corps
RankCaptain
Battles/warsNorth Africa, Sicily, and Italy in World War II

Abraham Kazen Jr., usually known as Chick Kazen (January 17, 1919 – November 29, 1987), was a U.S. Representative from Texas's 23rd congressional district, the first to serve in that particular position. Elected in 1966, Kazen served until 1985, having been defeated in the 1984 Democratic primary election by Albert G. Bustamante.

Background

Kazen was of Maronite Lebanese descent, and was related to the powerful Khazen family. He was a lifelong resident of the border city of Laredo. He graduated in 1937 from Laredo High School, renamed Martin High School. He then attended the University of Texas at Austin from 1937 to 1940. In 1941, Kazen graduated from the Cumberland School of Law in Lebanon, Tennessee, since removed to Birmingham, Alabama.

Military service

Kazen served in 1942 as a United States Army Air Corps pilot at the since closed Lubbock Air Force Base. During World War II, Kazen fought in North Africa, Sicily, and Italy as a pilot in Troop Carrier Command. He was discharged in 1953 with the rank of captain.

Public service

In 1946, Kazen was elected to the Texas House of Representatives and served from 1947 to 1953. He then served in the Texas Senate from 1953 to 1967, and was elected president pro tempore of the State Senate in 1959. He served as acting governor of Texas on August 4, 1959. He was a member of the Texas Legislative Council for sixteen years.

He was elected to Congress as a Democrat in 1966 representing the newly created 23rd District. It was the largest congressional district in area in the nation (excluding at-large districts encompassing whole states), stretching across 800 miles from El Paso in the west to San Antonio in the east. It had been created when Texas' previous congressional map was thrown out by the United States Supreme Court in the case Wesberry v. Sanders. He was reelected eight more times with no substantive opposition.

In 1984, Kazen's opponent in the Democratic primary was Bexar County Circuit Court Judge Albert Bustamante. By this time, the 23rd had become a majority-Hispanic district. Due in part to the demographic changes in the district, Bustamante upset Kazen in the primary, ending Kazen's 39 years as an elected official. After Kazen's defeat, no non-Hispanic white Democrat represented a significant portion of San Antonio in the House until Lloyd Doggett had his Austin-based district redrawn to include a section of San Antonio.

Kazen grave with congressional emblem on tombstone at Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Laredo, Texas
The Kazen College Center on the Laredo Community College campus

See also

References

External links

Portals:
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded byNew District Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Texas's 23rd congressional district
1967–1985 		Succeeded byAlbert G. Bustamante
Categories: