Education
He graduated from Hillsborough High School as valedictorian in 1935. He graduated from the University of Tampa, also as valedictorian, in 1939.
He graduated from Hillsborough High School as valedictorian in 1935. He graduated from the University of Tampa, also as valedictorian, in 1939.
He served as the first Hispanic president of the National Education Association. Alonso as born in Ybor City, Tampa, Florida on December 16, 1916. His first language was Spanish.
Braulio went to work at the age of 10 in order to help support his family.
Braulio married Adelfa (Bebe) Diaz, an elementary school educator, in August 1941. They had two children.
Braulio entered the United States Army in October 1941. He entered as a private and was immediately sent to Officer Candidate School.
Doctor Alonso served with the 85th infantry Division in North Africa and the Italian Campaign as Battery Commander in the 328th Artillery Battalion.
He was in the first group of allied officers to enter Rome. Major Alonso was discharged in November 1945. Alonso began his teaching career as a chemistry and physics teacher at Henry B. Plant High School before the war.
After the war, Alonso returned to public education as director of Adult Education and On the Job Training for Veterans.
He pioneered the present-day Adult High School. He served as Director of this office from 1946 to 1953.
During the summers he attended the University of Florida where he earned a Master"s and Ph. His next assignments were as principal of West Tampa Junior High School (1952–1958), Jefferson High School (1958–1962) and C. Leon King High School (1962–1968).
All three schools grew in excellence under his tenure.
In pursuit of that mission, he served as president of the Hillsborough Education Association (1951–1956) and then as President of the Florida Education Association in 1957. He was especially proud of his role as one of the educators who contributed toward desegregating the Federal Energy Administration. Braulio was elected president of the National Education Association and took office in July, 1967. In 1968 masses of Florida teachers resigned in protest over budget cuts.
The county refused to rehire him after the protest.
Braulio later became the National Education Association"s director of international relations and traveled the world representing the National Education Association. He retired his post at the National Education Association in 1983. In 2001, Braulio Alonso High School was opened in honor of Doctor Alonso.