AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN -- It’s always been a head-scratcher for outsiders — Austinites pronouncing Manchaca Road as “MAN-shack.” But after decades of confusion, will Austin finally get it right?
After six years and more than $24,000 raised, retired Judge Bob Perkins certainly hopes so. Since 2011, he’s been a champion for Texas Revolutionary captain José Antonio Menchaca, who Perkins said is the true namesake behind the approximately 8-mile-long road. Some opponents, though, say the belief that the road was named after Menchaca (pronounced men-CHAH-kah) is incorrect.
But on Tuesday, Perkins and his nonprofit group Justice for Menchaca got a step closer to putting an end to “man-shack” when Austin City Council Member Sabino “Pio” Renteria filed an application to rename Manchaca Road in South Austin to Menchaca Road.
“While there have been innumerable Tejano — Texan of Mexican decent — leaders and pioneers throughout our state’s history, very few are honored,” Renteria said in an email. “Therefore to maintain the improper spelling not only half-honors Menchaca but it dismisses the many Tejano contributions to our culture and our state.”
Menchaca, who fought for Texas in the Battle of San Jacinto in 1836, led a patrol in areas north and west of San Antonio to protect against Native American attacks. His actions in this battle, Renteria said, “helped lead to the capture of Mexican President Antonio López de Santa Anna and eventually to the recognition of the Republic of Texas as a free and independent country.”
Over the years, Justice for Menchaca has raised awareness about the late Texas army captain and has brought together many of his descendants. For Hays County resident Jacki Horak, a great-great-great-granddaughter of Menchaca, the news of Tuesday’s filing was a long time coming.
Read the full story on the Austin American-Statesman, here.