In the second half of last century growing up Hispanic in the Midwest was not an easy thing to do. I was born at St Lukes in Davenport. My family lived in Cook’s Point and that was about the only place where Mexicans (Hispanics) could live in Davenport at that time. In 1949 the city condemned the property and we were forced to move out. For the next two years my family passed through one of the most difficult hardships human being can have. For the next two years we did not have a place to call home, we were homeless. The first year of our ordeal we passed at my maternal grandparents house in Garden City, Kansas. The next year we moved to Muscatine. A year later we were back in Davenport.
Finally our experience of not having a place to call our own came to an end. My family could afford a home and we moved to our very own place in Pleasant Valley. I spend my youth in that house. In 1964 I was drafted into the Army and spent 2 years in Texas as a Tank Crew member. At the present time I’m a member of Le Claire American Legion Post 347 and I am on the Honor Guard and I also serve as the Vice Commander of the Lodge.
In 1965 I met and married Sandra, a wonderful woman who would be by my side always supporting me for many years to come. In 1971 my wife and I moved to Bettendorf where we were beginning our journey as a family. My wife and I were blessed with four daughters. Now our daughters have their own families. We are extremely proud to say that we have 10 grandchildren and even 5 great grandsons.
Since 1998 I have been a Republican and from 2000 thru 2012 I have been State Central Committee member. In 2000 I became a Vice Chair in Scott County. Also, Iím a member of LULAC, the Greater Quad Cities Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, St. John Danney Catholic Church. In addition, I am a Mason, member of Early Morning Lodge 672, member of St. James Lutheran Church food Bank. I have felt homelessness in my own skin that is why I also enjoy helping others. For the past 4 years I have delivered bread, cookies, cakes donated to food Pantries.
Among being a member of a lot different organizations I also have been on the board of CASI, United Way, Trustee Herbert Hoover Library, Quad Cities Health Initiative board member, Generations of Iowa.
Yes, my childhood was not easy, but the hardships did not break me. I would say that they turned me into caring family man and a strong person who is not afraid to truly help others. Those conservative values are what I find in common with the Republican Party.
I am Hispanic and I am also a Republican!
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