Roll Call Tribute

Luis Alfonso "Sal" Salinas 

November 12, 1956 - March 11, 2024 

Luis Alfonso Salinas, a proud veteran of the U.S. Navy, passed away suddenly on March 11, 2024 after a long struggle with cardiac disease. He was 67 years old at time of death.

He was born on November 12, 1956 in Laredo, Texas, to María Irma Villafranca Peña and Leopoldo Salinas, Jr., both now deceased. He is survived by his brothers Leopoldo, III, and Carlos Eduardo, sister-in-law Elsa, niece Cristina Elsa Salinas, and nephew Samuel Timothy Salinas, and various cousins.

He attended Martin High School in Laredo and graduated in 1975. He joined the Navy after high school and was assigned to the USS Virginia, where he served for six years. After his Honorable Discharge he attended Texas A&M University where he obtained a degree in Electrical Engineering. He worked in the defense industry for many years.

His love of chess led to his becoming an accomplished player, eventually evolving into tournament leadership roles. Luis was well known in the Texas and U.S. Chess communities. After his engineering work in the defense industry, he was recruited into the University of Texas at Dallas, where he led their chess program. He was also President and Chief Operating Officer, operating many tournaments for the Dallas Chess Club. He was an FIDE Arbiter, International Organizer, Senior Tournament Director, and U.S. Chess Life Member.

Services for Luis will be held at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio, TX on April 12, 2024 at 10:00 am.

There will also be a reception in his honor in Dallas, TX on April 21 at 6:30 pm at the Holiday Inn Conference Facilities on I-635 and Preston Ave.