As a county commissioner, Solis tried to get the city's constitution clinics to presentation chief misery to low-income residents. He believed the combination would also improve mark down Thomason Hospital's predicament fret costs. In 1985, he helped to inspirit a battle-of-the-bands fundraiser at the El Paso County Coliseum to better devour hungry colonize in El Paso. He dead his re-election bid for county commissioner in 1986 against the belated Orlando Fonseca.
The Solis-Fonseca flume was one of the most contentious in El Paso's bureaucratic history. Former El Paso County Judge Alicia Chacon said she met Solis when he worked in quondam submit Sen. Tati Santiesteban's rules and regulations office.
"When we started the Texas Mexican-American Democrats, Mickey worked with us for a while," Chacon said. "He proved he was a wiry campaigner when he ran for county commissioner the anything else fix against -- and overcome -- Richard Telles Jr., who himself was very tough.
"However, the electioneer against Orlando Fonseca was much uglier. Supporters of Mickey and Orlando went at it with bats in the street. That's how injurious it got." Chacon said she remembered Solis as an caring and calm child "who was very civil and forbearing with everyone.
" Longtime El Pasoan James Moore got to positive Solis after working with him for a year and a half at the Albertson's Rather formal on Montwood Drive in East El Paso. "You could always figure up on Miguel," Moore said. "He always did what he said he would do. He was responsible. I don't advised of why he was so driven.
He was a passable retainer and intelligent." Solis and his beforehand wife, Renee Garcia, both worked for a epoch as pharmacists at the La Fe medical center in South El Paso. Solis grew up in the Sherman Place case engagement off Paisano Drive, near the County Coliseum.
When the dwelling units were built in the 1950s, officials said they were designed to purvey kids with a advantageous territory that would give them an occasion to get before in life. Raised by his coddle and grandmother, Solis lived in the neighborhood before it was allowed to deteriorate. In the past 1970s and the 1980s, disgraceful gangs such as the Fatherless and Diablos had invade Sherman and other projects in the vicinity. At Jefferson High School, Solis excelled in his studies and in sports.
He went on to gain degrees from the University of Texas at El Paso, the University of Texas College of Pharmacy in Austin, and the UT School of Law in Austin. Friends reply he helped bestow for his college expenses by working at the Boys Club and as a medical technician. Solis was spry in the El Paso Boys Club, Manpower Council for the municipality of El Paso, number one body of Project Bravo, the UTEP Alumni Association and numerous other civic organizations. After divorcing his foremost wife, Solis moved to the Dallas-Fort Worth area, where he practiced command and ran unsuccessfully for a judgeship. Five years later, he returned to El Paso in 1993.
Felipa Solis said, "He wanted to be here because he loved 'El Chuco,'" a monicker many have given the city. At time 53 in 1994, he late an designation for the 8th Court of Appeals. It would be his terminal foray into politics. Solis is survived by four children Miguel Solis Jr., Renee Solis Snyder, Javier Solis and Gabriel Solis. A Mass will be at 11:00 a.m. today at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, 1315 Travis.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Mickey Solis Scholarship Fund, c/o El Paso Community Foundation, P.O. Box 272, El Paso, Texas 79943-0272. Diana Washington Valdez may be reached at dvaldez@elpasotimes.com; 546-6140.
