Tampa Honors WWII Veteran Tony Garcia Jr. With Street

Tampa unveiled a street sign honoring World War II veteran and community leader Tony Garcia Jr. at the corner of N Howard Avenue and W Cherry Street in West Tampa on Monday.

Garcia served in World War II and the Korean War, including deployments to the Aleutian Islands and Panama. For 35 years, he directed Tampa's United Services Organizations, securing jobs for retiring service members and providing amenities like movie tickets and typewriters for troops.

Garcia revived the West Tampa Chamber of Commerce and championed the Hillsborough Educational Foundation and Latin American Fiesta. Councilman Luis Viera sponsored the street naming.

"Tony Garcia was a patriot who loved the United States and everyday Americans," Viera said. "For decades, he welcomed our troops as head of the local USO. He was also a champion for West Tampa when West Tampa needed one."