Antonio M. Fernández

Antonio Manuel Fernández was a United States representative from New Mexico, elected to seven consecutive terms from 1942 to 1956.

Early life and career

Fernandez was born in Springer, New Mexico, where he attended the public schools, and Highlands University, Las Vegas, New Mexico. He received law training at Cumberland University, Lebanon, Tennessee, and was a court reporter for the eighth judicial district of New Mexico from 1925 to 1930. Later, he was admitted to the bar in 1931 and commenced practice in Raton, New Mexico.
He was the assistant district attorney of the eighth judicial district in 1933 and practiced law in Santa Fe, New Mexico, in 1934.

Political career

Fernández served in the New Mexico House of Representatives in 1935. He was the chief tax attorney for the New Mexico Tax Commission in 1935 and 1936 and the first assistant attorney general from 1937 to 1941. He was a member of the first New Mexico Public Service Commission in 1941 and 1942.

Congress

He was elected as a Democrat to the 78th and to the six succeeding Congresses and served from January 3, 1943, until his death. Fernández was the chairman, Committee on Memorials.

Death

Soon after being reelected to the 85th Congress, he died in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on November 7, 1956, a day after. Fernandez was buried in Rosario Catholic Cemetery in Santa Fe, New Mexico.