Award-Winning Biography ‘Marine, Public Servant, Kansan’ Returns in New Paperback Edition October 13
TOPEKA, KS, UNITED STATES, October 8, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- University Press of Kansas will release a new
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TOPEKA, KS, UNITED STATES, October 8, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — University Press of Kansas will release a new paperback edition of Dennis R. Garcia’s award-winning biography, Marine, Public Servant, Kansan: The Life of Ernest Garcia, on October 13, 2026, bringing the story of Ernest “Ernie” Garcia to a new generation of readers.
Marine, Public Servant, Kansan follows Ernie’s path from a Kansas childhood to the U.S. Marine Corps and ultimately to state and national public service. He became Sergeant at Arms of the US Senate, where he escorted President Ronald Reagan to the podium for the State of the Union Address, and he later served as Superintendent of the Kansas State Highway Patrol.
Drawing on oral histories from Ernie, family members and friends, Garcia reaches back to the generations that came before Ernie and their journey from Mexico to El Paso and Kansas. The book follows Ernie through the early loss of his father, discrimination, education, military service, and a public-service career that placed him alongside state and national leaders.
“Ernie accomplished a great deal in his lifetime, but what interested me was also how he got there,” Garcia said. “His story was shaped by the experiences of the generations before him, his Kansas upbringing, education, hard work, and a commitment to service. I’m pleased that this new paperback edition will give more readers an opportunity to know his story.”
Originally published in hardcover, Marine, Public Servant, Kansan won the gold medal for Best Biography at the International Latino Book Awards. The new paperback edition gives longtime readers an opportunity to revisit Ernie’s life while introducing the biography to readers discovering Garcia’s work for the first time.
The release follows Garcia’s more recent book, Las Madres: Latinas in the Heartland Who Led Their Family to Success. While Las Madres follows three generations of women in Garcia’s family, Marine, Public Servant, Kansan focuses on one man whose Kansas upbringing led to military and national public service. Together, the books reflect Garcia’s continuing work to preserve Mexican American family history, their experiences, and their contributions to American history.
Book Details
Title: Marine, Public Servant, Kansan: The Life of Ernest Garcia
Author: Dennis Raphael Garcia
Publisher: University Press of Kansas
Paperback Release: October 13, 2026
Paperback ISBN: 9780700643707
Order Now:
🔗 University Press of Kansas
🔗 Your favorite online bookstore
About the Author
Dennis Raphael Garcia, AWA, is a retired attorney, educator, and author whose work focuses on family history and the Mexican American experience. He is also the author of the award-winning Las Madres: Latinas in the Heartland Who Led Their Family to Success.
For more information about Garcia and his books, visit www.dennisraphaelgarcia.com. Garcia is available for interviews and speaking engagements.
Social Media:
Facebook, Instagram, & Bluesky: @drgarciaauthor
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