Remembering David Riojas

We are honoring and recognizing a longtime pillar of TRLA, a leader in the Eagle Pass community, and a key contributor to the fight for Native American rights, David Riojas. David passed away on December 4, 2019.

David Riojas was a first-generation Mexican American born and raised in Eagle Pass, Texas. He started with Texas Rural Legal Aid as a paralegal in 1977. He resigned in 1981 to go to law school at Texas Tech School of Law, and in 1984 he rejoined TRLA as an attorney. 

David dedicated his legal career to supporting the Kickapoo Tribe. He was a part of the efforts in the late 70s and 80s to get the Kickapoo Indian Tribe official recognition from the Bureau of Indian Affairs. With his leadership, TRLA succeeded in that fight, opening the door for the Kickapoo Tribe to not only get official recognition but to finally gain their own lands. This allowed them to move from living under the international bridge to their present location.

David continued to represent the Kickapoo and individual members of the tribe throughout his professional career. He worked as the public defender for the Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas Tribal Court and served as a Board Member of the Kickapoo Gaming Authority Board.

At TRLA he was the Native American Team Manager. He worked on farm labor cases and public benefits to help support his community. In addition to his legal career, David also shaped local politics in Eagle Pass. He was elected to the Eagle Pass City Council in 1993 and served for fourteen years. He was influential in giving voters a voice in the site selection of the second international bridge, bringing accountability to city boards and financial stability by making better use of existing city resources. He also served as a trustee of the Eagle Pass Independent School District in 2008, where he used his knowledge of labor law to advocate for school employee’s rights.

The Eagle Pass Business Journal also wrote about David’s impact in Maverick County which you can read more about here.

David was kind and generous. His dedication was unwavering, and his contribution to justice for our clients was invaluable. David leaves an incredible legacy. TRLA will miss him.