Eligio "Kika" de la Garza II was born on September 22, 1927, in Mercedes, Texas, and grew up in Mission, Texas. He was a veteran of both the United States Navy and the Army, serving during World War II and the Korean War.

He attended Edinburg Junior College and later earned a law degree from St. Mary’s University School of Law in San Antonio in 1951. His early life was marked by military service, including two years in the Navy at age 17 and later as a lieutenant in the Army Artillery during the Korean conflict.

After completing his education and military service, he began a career in public service. He was elected to the Texas State Legislature in 1952, where he served six consecutive terms representing South Texas. His political career advanced when he was elected as a Democratic representative for Texas’ 15th congressional district in 1964, serving from 1965 to 1997.

During his long tenure in the United States House of Representatives, he became a prominent figure in agricultural policy and U.S.-Mexico relations. He served as chairman of the House Agriculture Committee from 1981 to 1994, where he played a key role in passing significant omnibus farm bills and reforms aimed at supporting U.S. agriculture, rural economic development, and food security.

Kika De la Garza was also a founding member of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus in 1976 and served as its chair from 1989 to 1991. He strongly advocated for improved healthcare access, education, and living conditions for low-income and marginalized communities.

Notably, he was instrumental in advancing free trade agreements, including the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), and worked to improve political and trade ties between the United States and Mexico. His expertise on U.S.-Mexico relations was recognized through active involvement in the Mexico-United States Inter-Parliamentary Group.

After serving 16 consecutive terms and dedicating over three decades to public office, he retired in 1997. He lived in McAllen, Texas, with his wife Lucille until his death on March 13, 2017.