Mi Carnal Frank/A Family Memoir and Biography of U.S. Congressman Frank Mariano Tejeda Jr., 1945-1997," written by his brother, Juan Tejeda, tells the story of the Tejeda family and Frank's life from birth, to a premature death at age 51. Utilizing interviews with family and close friends, plus 127 photos, documents and newspaper articles, this book chronicles Frank's early years being raised by poor Mexicano parents on the southside of San Antonio; through his Marine Corps service and highly decorated combat duty in Vietnam; college education; and 20-year career as a politician and elected public servant, first as a Texas State Representative, then a Texas Senator and U.S. Congressman. During these twenty years, Frank was a fierce advocate for social, educational, economic and environmental justice, veteran's benefits, the rights of the poor and his Mexican American community, and the people he represented. This is also a story of how Frank developed and was the leader of a grassroots political alliance of elected officials known as the "Southside Coalition" (who some called a "political machine," while others called it the "Brown Mafia"), and in the process became one of the most powerful Mexican American/Chicano politicians that San Antonio and the State of Texas have ever known