[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 129 (Thursday, September 23, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1718]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO MARIO OBLEDO

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JOE BACA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 23, 2010

  Mr. BACA. Madam Speaker, I along with Representatives Doris Matsui, 
Laura Richardson, Grace Napolitano, Ciro Rodriguez, Charles Gonzalez, 
Judy Chu, Solomon Ortiz, and Linda Sanchez rise to pay tribute to a 
great citizen, civil rights leader and humanitarian, Mario Obledo. A 
long time crusader for justice, Mario died of a heart attack on Aug. 
18, 2010 at the age of 78, in his home in Sacramento, California.
  Mario was a trailblazer, some referred to him as the ``Godfather of 
the Latino Civil Rights Movement.'' A symbol of activism, he took on 
employment discrimination, advocated for affirmative action and 
encouraged bilingual education. Mario was committed to ending all forms 
of racial injustice, and served as a respected advocate for his 
community.
  Throughout his legal career Mario desegregated schools, reformed jury 
selection, integrated swimming pools, and took down signs barring 
Mexicans from entering businesses. In one famous case, he defeated a 
utility company with a height requirement that prohibited hiring anyone 
with an accent.
  Mario was born in San Antonio, Texas, in 1932 to Concepcion Guerra 
and Jesus Obledo, immigrants who migrated to the United States during 
the Mexican Revolution. As a child he grew up in a tiny house off a 
dirt road and slept on the floor with his 12 siblings.
  Mario's father died when he was five. His family often had to hustle 
to support itself, but Mario was encouraged by supportive adults to 
stay in school. His mother repeated to him, ``teachers are second to 
God.'' The pharmacist he worked for since the age of 12 urged him to go 
to college.
  Mario served in the Navy during the Korean War and graduated from the 
University of Texas at Austin in 1957 with a pharmacy degree. Working 
as a pharmacist, he put himself through law school and graduated from 
St. Mary's University in San Antonio in 1960.
  Mario believed his greatest achievement was opening doors of 
employment to Latinos. He taught law at Harvard University and is 
credited with encouraging Latinos to enter state government.
  Mario served as President of the National Coalition of Hispanic 
Organizations before he passed. He had a long and illustrious career in 
public service, working as Assistant Attorney General for the State of 
Texas, and later appointed head of the California Health and Welfare 
Agency from 1975 to 1982. In this capacity he served as the first ever 
Hispanic chief of a California State Agency.
  In 1982 Mario was the first Hispanic citizen to mount a serious 
campaign for governor of California, despite losing he never lost his 
passion for justice and equality. He never tired of fighting for and 
advocating on behalf of the poor and underprivileged.
  Mario successfully challenged discriminatory electoral systems and 
registered hundreds of thousands of Hispanic voters. He addressed 
candidates when they ignored issues affecting Latinos. Mario cried foul 
against Taco Bell in the late nineties, when it depicted a Chihuahua 
speaking with a stereotypical Mexican accent in national 
advertisements.
  Mario along with fellow veteran Pete Tijerina, co-founded the Mexican 
American Legal Defense and Education Fund (MALDEF). Mario was 
responsible for MALDEF's litigation program, he organized legal 
seminars and disseminated legal information to the community. He 
lectured at colleges and universities and encouraged dialogue as a 
panelist at conferences and seminars.
  Mario was co-founder of the Hispanic National Bar Association and the 
National Coalition of Hispanic Organizations. He served as president of 
the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) from 1983 to 1985, 
was Chairman of the National Rainbow Coalition from 1988 to 1993, and 
also served on the Martin Luther King Jr. National Holiday Commission.
  Mario holds many honors and awards recognizing his contributions to 
the advancement of civil liberties for people of color. In 1973, he was 
awarded the National Urban Coalition Distinguished Urban Service Award. 
In 1985 he was given the Ohtli Award, Mexico's highest civilian award 
to a foreigner. In 1998, Mario was honored with the Presidential Medal 
of Freedom by President Bill Clinton. In 1999 he was awarded the 
National Hispanic Hero Award by the United States Hispanic Leadership 
Institute.
  Madam Speaker, we join today to express our gratitude to Mario for 
his life work and philosophy. A belief in helping others, a love of 
community, and patriotism compelled him to lead a tremendous life of 
service. It is fitting, on such an occasion that we tribute Mario 
Obledo for the exceptional friendship and leadership that is his 
legacy.

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