Antonio grew up in the Rio Grande Valley town of Donna, where he graduated from high school in 1966. He was then drafted into the U.S. Army for the next two years, included a 10-month tour in Vietnam. Antonio was stationed in Mineral Wells and learned to do maintenance on helicopters. He often spent weekends in West Dallas, where he met his future wife, Maria Elena, while babysitting for a friend. They were married in 1977. One of their four children, Maria Angelina, born in 1981, lived only 37 days. “Our angel in heaven,” Antonio said. Antonio Jr. is 35, lives in Cedar Hill and joined the council during the same ceremony. Christopher, 28, lives in Arlington, and Angelica, 23, lives in North Dallas. The Gomezes have two grandsons. Antonio is retired from a career working helicopter maintenance. He and Maria Elena live in Grand Prairie and have remained members of Our Lady of Lourdes parish in West Dallas.