Eleno Diaz, Jr., 91, passed away on Friday, January 2, 2009, in Hot Springs, Arkansas. He was born February 16, 1917, in Hondo, Texas to Eleno and Teresa Luna Diaz. Eleno attended an all-Hispanic elementary school and then enrolled in high school, graduating with the Class of 1934 - the first Hispanic to graduate from Hondo High School. He was a talented baseball and basketball player for the Hondo High School Owls and he also played with the Hondo Bears Baseball Team. In 1941, Eleno joined the US Army as a signalman and served under the command of General Douglas MacArthur where he spent two years in the jungles of New Guinea. He also participated in the invasion of the Philippines. During his length of service, Eleno was awarded several medals. After military service, Eleno continued his career as a barber and later moved to Chicago, Illinois, where he remained until retiring to Hot Springs, Arkansas. Eleno was preceded in death by his parents, Eleno and Teresa Luna Diaz, his sisters, Antonia Diaz and Corina Diaz Chaney, and son, Edward L. Diaz. He is survived by his daughter, Sylvia Tereza Garza and husband, Felix, from Albuquerque, New Mexico, and his son, Carl E. Diaz, from Chicago, Illinois; three grandchildren, Damiana Garza (Cortinas) from Albuquerque, NM, Veronica Garza Cortes and husband, Gerard, from San Antonio, TX, and Felix Garza, Jr. and wife, Irma, from San Diego, CA; six great-grandchildren: Michael Cortinas, Elizabeth Madalena Cortinas, Alicia Nicole Cortes, Gerardo Cortes, Jr., Anthony Richard Cortes and Isabella Sarina Garza. He is also survived by his brother, David and wife, Ruperta, from Hondo, TX; his sisters, Belia Diaz Cappetta and Elsa Diaz Rodriguez from San Antonio, TX, and numerous nieces and nephews Graveside services will be held Wednesday, January 7, at 2:00 p.m. at the Hondo Cemetery, Guadalupe Section.