SAN JUAN, Texas - Anthony Covacevich, former director of the Hidalgo County Urban County Program, has added his tributes to the late Abelardo "Lalo" Arcaute.
Arcaute, a former Hidalgo County Commissioner and a trailblazer as the first Hispanic mayor of San Juan, died on December 28, 2025. He was 89 years of age.
He is perhaps best remembered as the first Hispanic mayor of San Juan. He, Juan Maldonado and Tony Garcia were elected to office in 1971, breaking the Anglo establishment’s stranglehold on city government in heavily Hispanic San Juan.
Covacevich, however, best remembers Arcaute during his time as a county commissioner.
“It is with great sadness that I learned of the death of former Hidalgo County Commissioner Lalo Arcaute. I recall my interactions with Commissioner Arcaute when I was the Hidalgo County Urban County Program director. One of them occurred early in my 13 years as an employee of the county,” Covacevich said.
“In late June of 1988, we received notice from HUD that our application for Urban County designation had been approved. We had to prepare interlocal agreements with the 13 cities that composed the Urban County Consortium. Among other items we had to prepare a work plan that included our $13 million dollar budget. This included funding for six different programs and administrative expenses.
“During our Commissioners Court meeting I approach the Commissioners Court dais with the information needed for approval of our funding request. Commissioner Arcaute quickly glanced at the budget and, prior to my presentation of the documents to Commissioner’s Court for their approval, commented to the Court and myself that the budget was not correct. The numbers did not add up to the sum total.
“Having heard of Commissioner Arcaute’s mental acuity with numbers, I quickly requested that this item be tabled and be acted on at the next Commissioner’s Court meeting. The budget and other documents were approved at the subsequent meeting.
“This action prevented HUD from delaying the funding of the Urban County Program due to the budget miscalculation and kept HUD from second guessing as to the County's capacity to administer this annual grant program that exceeded $13 million a year.
“Thank you, Commissioner Arcaute for your service to Hidalgo County.”
Hidalgo County Judge Richard Cortez has also paid tribute to Arcaute.
“Abelardo ‘Lalo’ Arcaute was a lifelong resident and former mayor of San Juan. He also served as the Hidalgo County Precinct 2 Commissioner for 16 years. He will be remembered for his public service, dedication to the community and commitment to his family. My deepest condolences to his family and all those whose lives he impacted. May his memory be a blessing,” Cortez said.
Here is the official obituary for Arcaute:
SAN JUAN-Abelardo "Lalo" Arcaute, 89, entered eternal rest Sunday, December 28, 2025, at Grand Terrace Rehabilitation Center in McAllen.
Lalo was a lifelong resident of San Juan and served as its Mayor for two terms. He was the city's first Hispanic mayor, and was especially proud of his role in expanding basic services throughout the city.
He continued his public service with sixteen years as Hidalgo County Commissioner of Precinct 2. In that capacity he was instrumental in the creation of the Urban County Program and in modernizing the outlook of Drainage District 1 to accommodate the county’s growth.
While serving in these elected positions he was a frequent speaker at meetings and public hearings, some as far away as Boston and Mexico City, on topics as varied as subdivision regulation and waste management.
Lalo was a veteran of the U.S. Army, for a time being stationed in Fort Polk, Louisiana. He attained the rank of Sergeant in the 49th Armored Division. He continued his military service in the mid-sixties in the National Guard.
For over thirty years he was a board member, then manager of San Juan Cemetery Association. He was an active participant in many community groups, often as a board member or trustee. Among these groups were the Pharr Jaycees, the Fraternal Order of Eagles, Woodmen of the World, the Tri City Lions and the American Legion.
He was a longtime member of St. John Lutheran Church with stints as a member of the church council, Sunday School teacher, and member of the American Lutheran Church Development Program.
Lalo was extremely proud to have helped start the San Juan Youth Baseball Program, turning his sons into lifelong baseball fans. In those early years he coached, umpired, ran the concession stand, maintained the field and raised funds for the program. At every stage in his public service life he supported the youth program, so much so, that its officers named the second field at Mayfield Park after him.
Lalo is preceded in death by his wife, Conrada Arcaute; his parents, Andres and Josefina Arcaute; and two brothers, Andres and Armando.
He is survived by three sons, Andy (Rachel) Arcaute, George (Sylvia) Arcaute and Joel Arcaute; three grandchildren, Andy Arcaute, Alisa Arcaute and Andrea Arcaute; and two sisters, Edelmira Alvarado and MaryLou Ceron.
Visitation and a prayer service took place on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, at Memorial Funeral Home in San Juan. The funeral service will took place on Wednesday, December 31, 2025, at Memorial Funeral Home Chapel. Interment followed at San Juan Cemetery. Funeral services were under the direction of Memorial Funeral Home in San Juan.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Abelardo "Lalo" Arcaute, please visit Memorial Funeral Home’s flower store.
