| José Refugio Esparza Reyes | |
| Office: | Governor of Aguascalientes |
| Term Start: | 1 December 1974 |
| Term End: | 30 November 1980 |
| Predecessor: | Francisco Guel Jiménez |
| Successor: | Rodolfo Landeros Gallegos |
| Office2: | Member of the Chamber of Deputies for Aguascalientes′s 2nd district |
| Term Start2: | 1 September 1967 |
| Term End2: | 31 August 1970 |
| Predecessor2: | Augusto Gómez Villanueva |
| Successor2: | Baudelio Lariz Lariz |
| Birth Date: | 23 August 1921 |
| Death Place: | Aguascalientes City, Mexico |
| Party: | PRI |
José Refugio Esparza Reyes (August 23, 1921 – November 12, 2015) was a Mexican teacher, politician and member of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI). He served as the Governor of the Mexican state of Aguascalientes from 1974 until 1980.[1] [2]
Esparza Reyes was born on August 23, 1921, in the former village of Mexiquito, located in the community of Viudas de Oriente, Villa Juárez, Aguascalientes.[1] The village of Mexiquito, his birthplace, no longer exists.[1]
He created a number of state social programs, notably Operation Bee (Operación Abeja), which promoted citizen participation and transparency in rural areas.[1] [2]
José Refugio Esparza Reyes was hospitalized on November 11, 2015.[1] He died at a private hospital in Aguascalientes City on November 12, 2015, at the age of 94.[1] The Aguascalientes state government and Governor Carlos Lozano de la Torre declared two days of mourning from November 12–13, 2015.[1] His funeral, accompanied by honor guards, was held at the state Government Palace.[1] [2]