In Memoriam: Lupe “Champ” Fraga

It is with great sadness that INDEPENDENT DEALER learned of the passing of Lupe Fraga.

Lupe was born on February 5, 1936, in Houston, Texas, to Felix and Angela Fraga, and grew up in Houston’s Second Ward, the youngest of six brothers: Frank, Joe, Angel, Tommy, and Felix. He graduated from St. Thomas High School in 1953. While there Lupe won a Texas Christian Interscholastic League State Championship in baseball and basketball. In 1994, he was inducted into the St. Thomas High School Hall of Honor.

Lupe received an athletic scholarship to attend Texas A&M University and was a member of the Corps of Cadets. Lupe graduated from A&M in 1957 with a bachelor of business administration degree. After graduating Lupe was recognized many times over by the university for his numerous achievements. Upon graduating from A&M, Lupe entered the U.S. Army and was honorably discharged after four years of service with rank of First Lieutenant in 1962.

In 1962, at the age of 26, Lupe met James Kendigs, owner of Kendigs Office Supply, and told him he wanted to purchase the company with the help from his then girlfriend, Irene Vaeza. The two worked together, and she loaned him money to meet payroll in those early days. In 1982, the company’s name was changed to Tejas Office Products, Inc.

Under Lupe’s stewardship, and thanks to his remarkable skill for relationship building, the company thrived. Tejas recently celebrated its 60th year servicing the Houston business community. Under Lupe’s leadership, the company received numerous recognitions.

He was featured on the cover of DBA Houston Business Magazine

and Hispanic Business Magazine

He was honored by the Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce as its Businessman of the Year in 1991. In 2001, PBS aired a nationwide television presentation featuring Tejas for its education series, Small Business School. Tejas was named by the Houston Minority Supplier Development Council as its Supplier of the Year in 1991, 2001, 2006, 2008 and 2016, and was one of their Emerging Ten Award winners in 2002. In 2006, Texas Southern University honored him with its Legacy Hero award. In March 2011, the Center for Houston’s Future honored Lupe and his brother, Felix, with the Eugene H. Vaughan Civic Leadership Award for their lifetime of creating a better community in Houston.

Lupe was a senior fellow of the American Leadership Forum (ALF) Class IX and was honored by ALF in April 2015 with its Public Service Award. In May of 2021, the Tejano Center for Community Concerns recognized him with its Legacy Award at its second annual State of the Center Luncheon. In November 2022, the Rotary Club of Houston recognized him with its Humanitarian Award at the 49th annual Rotary Lombardi Awards.

Ever active in the Houston community, Lupe served as chairman of the Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Houston Convention & Visitors Bureau, and the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas-Houston Branch. He was a former board member of the Greater Houston Partnership; the United Way of Greater Houston; the National Board of Directors of the YMCA; Harris County Child Protective Service; the Ray Childress Foundation; St. Thomas University Board of Trustees; and a trustee of the Strake Foundation.

Lupe married Irene in 1966 and the couple were blessed with three children: Michele R. Fraga, Alisa M. Kautzmann and Stephen M. Fraga. All three grew up in the company and Lupe turned the company over to them in 2004. Alisa’s husband Frank also works for Tejas in sales. Stephen has served as president since 2004 and Alisa is the administrative manager; while Michele selflessly took on the responsibility of caring for their parents.

Lupe was a devoted father, father-in-law and grandfather and proudly attended all manner of football games, baseball games, basketball games, volleyball games, softball games, dance recitals and graduations. He was proud of his grandchildren, Nick Kautzmann, Marissa A. Kautzmann, Gregory M. Fraga, Stephen M. Fraga, Jr. and Andrew M. Fraga.

Lupe was preceded in death by his parents, Felix and Angela Fraga; and brothers, Frank Fraga, Joe Fraga and Angel Fraga. He is survived by his wife Irene; his loving daughters, Michele R. Fraga, Alisa M. Kautzmann and her husband Frank N. Kautzmann, IV; and his beloved son Stephen M. Fraga and his wife Michelle M. Fraga. His five beloved grandchildren also survive him.