ALBERT ARMENDARIZ SR., 88 Latino civil rights leader

Judge Albert Armendariz Sr., a leader of the Latino civil rights movement who helped found the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, died of natural causes Thursday at a hospital in Brownsville, Texas.

He worked as an immigration judge from 1976 to 1985, and later was appointed to the Texas Court of Appeals.

In the late 1960s, he and other attorneys helped found MALDEF to address education and civil rights issues. He was chairman of the group's board of trustees from 1968 to 1971.

Born in El Paso, Texas, Judge Armendariz was drafted at the start of World War II and spent four years in Fort Bliss' motor pool. Like many other Hispanics who served in the military at the time, he focused on fighting discrimination at home after finishing his service.