Sara Puig Laas (1930-2026), Founder

The original visionary and founder of the Immigrant Hall of Honor

Sara Puig Laas (1930–2026), Founder

Founder and original visionary of the Immigrant Hall of Honor

Sara Puig Laas founded the Immigrant Hall of Honor in 2024 with a lifelong belief in the power of stories to build understanding, preserve history, and deepen our shared experience of immigration in America.

A native of Laredo, Texas, and the daughter of a Tejana mother, Sara grew up surrounded by the history and traditions of her family and South Texas. She was a descendant of the Ortiz family of Laredo and grew up with a deep connection to Casa Ortiz, the historic family home dating to the early 19th century. Her memories of the house and her family became part of the oral histories preserved at Casa Ortiz, where visitors can hear her recount family stories, including her memories of the devastating 1954 flood.

A lifelong writer, interviewer, storyteller, and advocate for education, Sara brought that same commitment to preserving and sharing stories throughout her life. She interviewed prominent authors and other guests for television and was active in the arts and civic life of Texas, serving as an officer on numerous arts-related boards, including the Writers’ League of Texas in Austin.

A graduate of The University of Texas, Sara’s professional career included human resources management for a bank and small-business ownership. In retirement, she continued to write, with her nonfiction and poetry appearing in anthologies and other publications.

Sara spent the final years of her life working to bring the Immigrant Hall of Honor to life.

Learn more about Sara at sarapuiglaas.com.