TEXAS — Tuesday's Google Doodle celebrates what would have been the 118th birthday of Mexican American broadcaster Raoul A. Cortez, a trailblazer in media for Latino and Hispanic communities.

The artwork was illustrated by Mexican American artist Rafael Lopez, and it represents the various roles Cortez played throughout his historical career.

What You Need To Know

  • Google Doodle honors the life of trailblazing Mexican American broadcaster Raoul A. Cortez

  • Cortez started the first full-time Spanish language radio and TV station in San Antonio
  • His career in media was followed by his influential civil rights work

  • He died in 1971 

Cortez was not only a pioneer in media, but also a civil rights activist who advocated for social change. He started the nation's first full-time Spanish language radio and TV station in San Antonio, allowing for more representation of the Spanish-speaking population in media.

Born in coastal Jalapa, Veracruz, Mexico on Oct. 17, 1905, Cortez and his family eventually immigrated to San Antonio, Texas, in the 1910s. This is where Cortez's love for media would later be born.

He started his career working as a reporter for San Antonio's La Prensa, a Spanish language daily newspaper. It wasn't long before he became interested in another form of media: broadcast radio.

In 1940, he began negotiating the purchase of a time slot for Spanish programming on the radio station KMAC to produce Spanish songs, comedic acts and sketches, according to the San Antonio Public Library.

Cortez then decided it was time to begin a new project. In 1944, he applied for a license to start his own radio station. At the time, there were restrictions on foreign language media, apparently due to the ongoing war. To get around this, Cortez said the station's purpose was to mobilize the Mexican American community to back the war effort.

He was granted the license and was able to open KCOR-AM in San Antonio in 1946, the first Mexican American-owned radio station produced only in Spanish. The station's slogan was "La Voz Mexicana," or the Mexican voice. After seeing success with the station, Cortez added television to his broadcasting operation, and it became the first Latino-run American TV station in Spanish. 

Cortez's influence touched not only media but also civil rights. He was heavily involved with the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), serving a term as director for District 15, which includes San Antonio and later serving two consecutive terms as the organization's president.

During his time as District 15 director, he oversaw the landmark Delgado v. Bastrop Independent School District case, which marked the end of segregation against Mexican Americans in Texas public schools.

Cortez died on Dec. 17, 1971.

Cortez's impact still lives on today. In 1981, the city of San Antonio named one of its public library branches after him —  the Raoul A. Cortez Branch. Radio Ink introduced Medallas de Cortez awards, named in honor of Cortez, which recognize excellence in Hispanic radio.