DTEX 2024.001-3-1 Familias Unidas & Newspaper Articles, 1974-2021 i
Pop 0
Gonzalez
to retire
after 20 years as deacon
Emilio"Popp"Gonzalez, 79, oping the first The couple received the Be-
is retiring from his position as Mass services nemerenti Medal for long and
deacon at Immaculate Concep "' conducted exceptional service to the Ca
tion Catholic Church and will be completely in he Church from Pope Ben ct
honored during abilingual Mass Spanish, be- XVI in 2011.
cAming a �,- Denton honored the couple
and public reception Sunday. le of the com- in 2009 when the school district
Mass begins at 4 p.m., and p named its earl childhood edu-
the reception immediately fol- Gonzalez munity y
lows.The reception will include Gonzalez cation center after them.
a pot-luck dinner and be in the cut hair for 30 years alongside Although he is retiring,Gon-
gynmasium at the church,2255 his wife,Guadalupe,at the Popo zalez said he will still be involved
N.Bonnie Brae St. &Lupe Hair Styling Center until in the church,just not as a full-
Gonzalez,who has served as his decision to become a full- time job.He added that he plans
deacon for the past 20 years,is a time deacon at Immaculate to help out where he can and
longtime resident of Denton Conception Catholic Church continue to do what he enjoys.
and was instrumental in devel- nearly 20 years ago. August 1ol 2015
Friday,
Mtn
z y
"itate of Ems
Serreturg of *tutr
r
1
CERTIFICATE OF FILING
O7
A,RrLCLES OF I 1011
FJR
DENTJJ FAMILIAS JNI )AS) INC#
CHARTER NO. 344431
THE JNJ_RSIG'gEUo AS SECRETARY Or STATE OF T-iE STATE OF TEXASo
HEREBY CERTIFIES THAT DUPLICATE J213INALS GF THE ATTACHED FOR THE
ABOVE, DULY ilj�ED AND VERIFIED* �Av_ BEEIN RECEIvED IN THIS OFFICE
AND ARE FOJ � ) TJ Cj 4z J�R"I TO LA4 •
ACCORJI43LY THE jNDERSIGNED• AS SUCH SECRETARY OF STATE,# AND BY
vIRTJE OF THE AJTHJRITY VESTED IN -ill BY LAW, HEREBY ISSUES THIS
CERTIFICATE AVJ ATTA'-:iES HERETJ THE 7JPLICATE ORIOINAL•
DATED JJN• 14r 1974
Secretary of State
Denton RecordmChrot
28 pages in 4 sections Vo1. 90, No. 292 Denton, Texas Saturday, May 21, 1994
s7s !
Speaker urges Hitspani
x # By Leslie Hueholt
Y Staff Writer ■ LULAC winners/2B Tomas Rivera
" ■TRIBUTE in song/213
Tomas Rivera Elementary
3 School was named for a man
' 3
� �, •, �� who left behind an inspiring Dr. Rodriguez, a member of The late Dr. Rivera was a
legacy for Hispanic children LULAC said the late Tomas nationally known Hispanic
i' the keynote speaker said at a Rivera "discovered himrself' at educator and ,
League of United Latin Ameri- a young age and learned to use
school
administrator.
can Citizens banquet. his talents. Dr. Rodriguez said His parents '
Dr. Rudy Rodriguez, proles- it is important for children to were migrant
sor and chairman of the De- have a clear vision of what farmers.
partment of Reading and Bilin- they want in life and the deter- Though he had
' z gual Education at Texas mination to pursue that vision. a transient
Woman's University, stressed During the banquet,the Den- early life, he x
A ; . the importance of Hispanic ton Independent School Dis- learned English
.a heritage, pride and education trict received the Tejano Heri- at a young age Rivera
<_ A at LULAC's annual scholarship tage Award for the naming of and
awards banquet Friday. the school for Dr. Rivera. Dr. concentrated on his schooling.
DR•C/nLLISON V.8MrrH More than 130 people, in- Albert Thomas, superinten- A native Texan, Dr. Rivera
'he fourth grade bilingual class from Lee Elementary school cluding a group of young sing- dent, and several school trust- received a degree in English frc,
ings "Corrido de Tomas Rivera" at the League of United.Latin ers, attended the event at Tex- Southwest Texas State Universt
,merican Citizens annual banquet Friday. as Woman's University. See LULAC/5A
Saturday, May 21, 1994/Denton Record-Chronicle/5A
LuLac
From/1 A The name serves as a re- In the year 2026, Anglo- and youths and the challenges
ees were present to accept the minder of accomplishments Americans in Texas are expec- that that presents for the peo-
honor. and contributions by Hispanic ted to become a minority, he ple of the state.
Dr. Rivera was a poet, educa- people, said Rick Salazar, pres- added. "And, for that world, talents,
for and community leader who ident of the Denton County "We as Hispanic Americans sheer skills and compassion for
was born in Crystal City, Tex- chapter of LULAC. live in a world of great duali- people will need to rise to the
as. The school, expected to "I think it will bring about a ty," said Dr. Rodriguez."One is surface,"he said.
open in mid-June, is the first cultural sense of awareness for in the world of our own heri- Also at Friday's banquet,
school in the Denton Indepen- all non-Hispanics,"Mr. Salazar tage and pride in our bilingual Adela Nunez,principal of Rive-
dent School District named for said. and bicultural experience.PMe ra Elementary, received the
a Hispanic. Dr. Rodriguez said it is criti- other deals with the bigger eco- Outstanding Hispanic Image
Years of efforts by members cal that ethnic minorities con- nomic and social issues of the Award for her contributions.
of the community to have a tinue with their schooling, cit- state—a transitioning econo- "I feel very, very honored,
Denton school named for a His- ing a need for educated my, a transitioning decision- and I certainly will be working
panic culminated in the school minorities to contribute to an making inclusiveness and the very hard to live up to all of its
being named for Dr. Rivera. increasingly diverse society. concern for troubled families expectations,"she said.
The Dallas Morning News dallasnews.com TEXAS & SOUTHWEST Wednesday, December 26, 5/ 11
ROOTS MUSIC
School mariachi read across United States
prog-&-rams sp
San Antonio ISD achi curriculum used in many musicians and teachers are an modernized the genre by cov- among the first to get master's adding that his earnings as a
is launchpad for South Texas schools."We were interconnected and tightknit ering pop songs. degrees in music education mariachi funded his educa-
among the first to recognize it community. Many know Ortiz But a new generation of with a specialty in mariachi at tion.
much of the expansion here." and her Grammy Award-win- teachers, having come out of Texas State University and re- "I've been to Germany,
Today,the San Antonio ISD ning husband, Juan, not only local mariachi programs,is re- turned to their old schools to Switzerland, Morocco because
SAN ANTONIO—Schools program teaches mariachi to. as the godparents of mariachi turning to neighborhood teach. of mariachi' he said, "and
from Oregon to Iowa to Ten- 2,600 students in 18 schools. education but also as the lead- schools. Cirilo and Angela "I tell the kids how it's a those stories help students see
nessee nowteach mariachi mu- Nine other local school dis- ers of Mariachi Campaas de Campos embody the trend. program that helped save me its potential in their lives."
sic as an art form. tricts also offer it. America,an ensemble that has Both in their late 20s, they from some of the perils of the Francisco tiara-Orta,
San Antonio, a city that San Antonio's mariachi played at the White House and played professionally, were barrio," Cirilo Campos said, The Associated Press
plays it at the drop of a sombre-
ro for civic events,weddings or
funerals,long has led the way:
teaching it in classrooms from
elementary school to college
for a degree program in maria-
chi.
Some observers say the
school programs preserve the
tradition and bring it to new
audiences;others see them as a
way to engage Latino students.
But the growing interest is not
restricted to Latinos.
This year, San Antonio's
North East Independent
School District added its first
mariachi class at a middle
school.
Mariachi traces its roots to
19th-century Mexico. Its pres-
ence in San Antonio schools
dates back more than four de-
cades. The city's largest pro-
gram,in the San Antonio Inde-
pendent School District,start-
ed in 1970 and is often used as a
template for other school dis-
tricts in the Southwest.
"Mariachi used to be con-
sidered, even by Latinos who
looked down on it, as cantina
music — and now look at it,"
said Belle Ortiz, who helped
start the San Antonio district's
program and designed a mari-
r
14 Nuestra Voz De North Texas
4
0
Courtesy of Rudy Wolper &
,r
a
The League of
United Latin ,,.
American Citizens LULAC of �' L
N
Denton, Texas
0
What is the League of United Latin American Citizens(LULAC)? As I engage r}*
young Latinos,I am amazed as to how many have never heard of LULAC, y R °
1�
Therefore before highlighting the history and the accomplishments of the Denton
County League of United Latin American Citizens in Denton,Texas,I will give a ^k,
brief history of LULAC. Only through understanding the history of LULAC will
we appreciate its mission. LULAC,like The Three Musketeers who fought battles
against great adversaries,coined its motto,"All for One and One for All". LatinosFs
understood they must work together in order to improve conditions for the Latino
community. The annexation of one third of Mexico into the United States as a re-
sult of the Mexican American War,granted citizenship to nearly 77,000 Mexicans.
Many of these citizens were not welcomed and every effort was made to make
these new citizens second class citizens even when they were native born. Very
little is taught about the prejudice toward the first Mexican Americans,their chil-
dren and grandchildren in American history books. In is incumbent on all Latinos
U to understand why life is easier for the Latino Community today. In places like
Texas,Mexican Americans were treated no different than blacks when it came to
civil rights.Mexicans Americans could not drink out of water fountains designated
for whites. Mexicans Americans could not enter to eat in restaurants. This is the
reason LULAC came to existence,to fight these prejudices.
The League of United Latin American Citizens(LULAC)is the oldest Latino
organization whose primary objective is to protect and defend the civil rights of
't the Latino Community. It was founded in 1929,when several Latino organiza-
tions decided to merge in order to increase their influence. It was a daunting task
to merge the Knights of America,The Sons of America and the League of Latin
14 American Citizens. In the end emerged the"The League of United Latin Ameri-
can Citizens. As LULAC Councils became more influential,Councils such as the
it one in California,in 1945,sued to integrate the Orange County School system,
awhich had been segregated on the grounds that Mexican children were"more
1 poorly clothed and mentally inferior to white children". In 1954,LULAC fought
p3! another landmark case,Hernandez vs the State of Texas,to protest the fact that a
Mexican American had never been called to jury duty in the state of Texas. The
o Supreme Court ruled this exclusion unconstitutional. Discrimination was rampant
in Texas during those years. There were more Mexicans killed by hanging than
('nnnnr4 Tn n/F]III!'nmm„nif.,.....,000ll,a.t..71 ..,,..,—P! 11 41'7_7o7-1n1[
i
i
i
e total number of Blackswho were hung during the Civil War. Discrimination knew no
age limit. In some communities every effort was made to prevent LULAC from organiz-
ing in its communities. Thanks to the brave efforts of so many,whose history has almost
been forgotten,there are State LULAC Chapters in all 51 states along with local City
Councils in many cities throughout the United States. Today,LULAC is still fighting for
political and educational equality.The work is not over.
The Denton County League of United Latin American Citizens in Denton,Texas transi-
tioned from the Familias Unidas in 1980. In April of 1981 the Denton LULAC Council
#4366,was formalized. The new Council took the name of Denton County LULAC
because members came from all of Denton County. Many of the first members came
to Denton to attend TWU or UNT. Early members included Tonni Ramirez,Jimmy
Benavides,Earl Martinez,Frank Perez,Steven Applewhite,Jobita Ramirez,Emilio
(Popo)and Lupe Gonzales,Frank Davila,Dr.G Roland Vela,Rudy Moreno,Dr.Rudy
and Rosemary Rodriquez,Dorothy Martinez,Isabella and Daniel Pena,Rick Salazar,
Liz Carter,Jesus Nava,and John Cabrales. Early LULAC members were dedicated,
passionate and forward looking citizens who wanted to contribute to the life of the
community. Their intent was to create a more dynamic and vibrant community that met
the needs of the Latino Community. They were young parents,energetic,boisterous,
passionate,and felt a calling to approach the City council,the County Commissioners,
the school district and universities whom they envisioned needed to listen to the thinking
and perspectives of a young LULAC organization. At times their efforts were welcomed
and at other times they were shunned. They never gave up. These early leaders held full
time jobs and found time to be civic minded leaders. Denton County LULAC member-
ship have included Democrats,Republicans,Independents,young,middle age,military
veterans,teachers,lawyers,public servants,administrators,university professionals,
parents,grandparents,clergy and other community leaders. All with a common goal of
improving the living condition of the Latino Community. LULAC members embraced
their Latino heritage. They were not ashamed of their heritage. They saw that there was
a disparity between the Latino population and white community
in areas of education,jobs,political representation,etc. tion has been its focus. Every year since the Council
These first LULAC members understood that if they was established it has provided scholarships to Latino
did not take on the daunting task of fighting inequality, students graduating from Denton High Schools. The
their children and grandchildren would also be victims scholarship project has grown exponentially from a
of a double standard. As a result of their perseverance couple of hundred dollars to over two hundred thousand
over 34 years,Denton is a better place for the Latino dollars with the assistance of Texas Women's Univer-
Community. sity,University of North Texas,North Texas Commu-
The Denton County LULAC Council has been nity College, donations from LULAC members,local
- successful in many areas. For instance,it has been businesses and individuals.
' successful in naming two schools in Denton for out- The scholarship banquet is scheduled for April 18,2015.
t standing Mexican Americans such as Tomas Rivera The banquet is all about the scholarship recipients. LU-
Elementary School and Popo and Lupe Preschool. LAC welcomes anyone who wants to donate or attend
The LULAC Council of Denton sees the need for the banquet. For more information about banquet,go to
more school and public buildings to be named after www.DentonLULAC.org
prominent Latino Leaders and is pursuing this issue. Denton County LULAC invites Latinos to seek a LU-
aAs another example,from 2010 to 2013 the Council LAC Council in their area to join. There is still a lot of
a lobbied the city of Denton to name the proposed Soc- work to do.
A cer Complex after Rolando Vila. Rolando was a UNT
k
a g microbiologist professor and a City Council member.
;n They were successful in this effort. In another effort,
in LULAC members led by Rick Salazar were success-
,b ful in working with the City of Denton to set up the
irr Denton Day Labor site. The labor site provides wel-
10 comed work for not only Mexican immigrants but for
?n Americans looking for work. Today the site provides
ac day labor opportunities for all people seeking employ-
V ment for the day. LULAC member,Dr.Rudy Ro-
dfdriquez served in the Denton School Board.Dorothy
id Martinez is currently a member of the Denton School
ut Board. Rudy Moreno and Dr.G.Roland Vela served
in,
ti in the City Council. LULAC members are actively
10 working with the local news paper,the Denton Record
P. Chronicle,to print more stories about Latino
aac contribu-
ac tions. As a result of these efforts two stories have been
to written in the Denton Record Chronicle: 1)underrep-
;3( resentation of schools with names that honor Mexican
wE Americans,and 2)interview of Dr.Ramiro Valdez on
tlYa Native Tejano defenders of the Alamo. The article was
gee' followed by an editorial complimenting the previous
rrb article on the Alamo. LULAC members led by Dr.
« Rudy Rodriguez have met with Denton County Court
e01of Commissioners to express their concern about the
!nt( underrepresentation of Mexican Americans in poster
ne displays of early Texas heroes. LULAC members
10- along with the NAACP are working with the City of
A Denton Police Chief to develop and educate the youth
co in a program called KIDS FIRST,on how to respond
iur( when engaged by a police officer to keep the situa-
,up tion from escalating and resulting in the youth getting
hp hurt.'How the youth perceive police officers is based
atif on what they see on television and that is not reality.
Fe, The aim of the program is to improve the relationship
nh
nth between youth and police officers.
nt Additionally,LULAC members have been active in
voter registration. As the number of Latinos eligible
qto vote grows our influence on our future also grows
Ou but we have to vote. Members of the Denton County
'.j. LULAC were active in 2014 in the Humanitarian relief
rc effort in support of the unaccompanied immigrant
Of children in the South Texas shelters.Dr.Isabella Pina
'n Hinojosa has dedicated countless hours to consolidate
to
and organize a record of Denton County LULAC his-
tory as a way to celebrate the Denton County LULAC
a
history.
t The crowning achievement of the Denton County LU-
Friday,May 29, 201
F
`n
S
A�
Yc
Rudy Rodr
guez, left,
and Ramir
Valdez loc
at grave s
of Hispani
settlers at
the cemet
by Cooper
Creek Bap
Church on
Tuesday it
Denton.TI
headstone
marking tl
c graves of
y Tiburcio N
chaca and
Dario Orti;
are showr
below in
detail.
Photos by Al
Key/DRC
Local group hopes to unearth details `
ahead of Hispanic Heritage Month
By Caitlyn Jones
Staff Writer "We need to ... appreciate
cjones@dentonrc.com � -
Across from the sleek, black head- the contributions this
stone of John and Jacqueline Stout sits little community of '
i
the grave of Tiburcio Menchaca,known t '►
a
Mexican settlers , > g
m frien
,.
as Tom to his ds
made to this area.
Surrounded b a chain-link fence and , x
Y
a forest of yucca, the weathered head- — Rudy Rodriguez, ice'
stone has survived 95 years in the Cooper local LULAC spokesman 1 7-
Creek cemetery. ;
The Menchacas may have been a spokesman for the Denton chapter of then
wealthy family. League of United Latin American Citi- t
Tiburcids headstone is one of the zens.
` most ornate at the cemetery on Fishtrap
Road, according to Rudy Rodriguez, a See HISTORY on 9A `
From Page LA
History
"The fence is sturdy and has seum historian who is working
been here for awhile.It suggests with LULAC on the Cooper
that they were well-off, Rodri- Creek project."Most of the peo-
guez said."But this is just pure ple we know today are because
speculation." of LULAC, and back then we 6
That may soon change. didn't have LULAC,so its diffi- c �3
There are 17 headstones with cult." a.
Hispanic names in the historic The cemetery, which re- 8 x
cemetery — the earliest from ceived a historical marker in
1909—that suggest a significant 2013,is one of the few in Texas
Hispanic presence around Den- that isn't segregated based on �
ton in the late 19th century.Ro- race or religion,a common prac- 31 c
driguez and other LULAC tice in the early 1900s. Histori-
members are looking to the ans say that is significant be- 0 9
Denton County Office of History cause it shows Hispanics were 3
and Culture as well as university treated equally in the commum-
professors for research on those tyy,
buried in Cooper Creek They Rodriguez said this equality
hope to add to the cites history doesn t translate in the'history o
in time for Hispanic Heritage books.The former UNT profes- ,9 v
Month in September. sor said there is only one page of a
"We really need to know photos referencing Hispanics in
more;Rodriguez said."We need Denton, a book detailing the o
to value and appreciate the con- cityls history. In another book
tributions this little community called Hwtwy and Reminis- �a
of Mexican settlers made to this cencP.s of Denton County, Ro- 0 6
0
area." driguez said the only mention of 3
Much of the current history anything Hispanic was a lone
of Hispanic culture in Denton paragraph about the benefits of �,g
centers on the Villanueva family, the Spanish horse. 0 3 .
which has four family members "The fact that they're virtual- w
buried in the cemetery.The pa- ly ignored says something about
triarch,Antonio,bought land in how much we value and appre- R bIO
"0
Denton in 1906, according to ciate the good work that they a
county records,and opened a ta- did,"he said. o
male cafe where Andy's Bar cur- Historians say its not that
rently sits on the Square. simple.Many of the names are
The Ramirez family with misspelled in official records, E 4 bo:n.2
three graves at Cooper Creek, making research harder. ❑
bought land in the 1910s and "When you research census o a °' C
started a ranch The Menchaca records, its interesting because „ +,
family with Tiburcids lone census takers weren't Spanish a -0o- o
grave, helped the Villanuevas speakers,so they would sound it 4
run the cafe before it closed in out phonetically"said,Kim Cu- ,n . n
the 1930s. pit,curator of collections at the o
Details of the lives of others Office of History and Culture."If
buried in the cemetery remain you speak Spanish,the name is 5 '>4 L
shrouded in mystery. Some phonetic to you,but if English is 8 q �
markers simply have names or your only language,its not." W.8 g
places of origin while some are Today,Hispanics are an inte- .11
,
unmarked completely,with only gral part of the Denton commu- 1 � �, L
blank stone signifying remains pity.The U.S.Census shows His- a 2 cA
below panics and Latinos made up
"We knew about the Men- more than 21 percent of the 2010
chacas and the Villanuevas be- city population and almost 19
cause they were involved in the percent of the 2013 county pop-
community.With other families, ulation. Some family members
what are the chances of people of the original settlers remain in
in the community knowing the area.
them?" said Alexis Martinez, a LULAC members want to
Courthouse-on-the-Square Mu- celebrate this culture with a His
1
,
Monday, March 2,2015
t
Ramiro Val-
dez,a retired
Texas Wom-
an's Universi
ty professor,
talks Feb.19
about Jose
Antonio Na-
varro,whose
likeness has
been added
to the other
portraits of
historical
figures from
the Alamo on
the first floor
of the Court-
house-on-
the-Square
Museum in
Denton.
Al Key/DRC
e en en
s u ies
By Peggy Heinkel-Wolfe Former TWU professor Texans who also died during that battle.
Staff Writer Ramiro Valdez likely knows more
pheinkel-u!olfe@dentonrc.corn digs deep into history about the battle at the Alamo than a lot
If you're as smart as a Texas fourth- ofTexans do.The retired Texas Woman:s
grader,you know about Davy Crockett, of battle for freedom University professor says he has read
Jim Bowie and William Barret Travis. just about everything he can get his
They died at the Alamo fighting for Tex- as' declaration of independence from hands on,both in English and Spanish.
as'freedom from Mexico. Mexico, you might have to be a little
But on this 179th anniversary of Tex- smarter to know about the eight native See ALAMO on 5A
LOCAL
From Page lA books,Valdez said.Forsomefam-
ilies,it was brother against broth
Alamo -
er,"Some w considered trai-
tors,having turned their back on
His interest in the Alamo be- Mexico, Valdez said. "It's still
gan as a boy.He remembers going emotionally charged for some.
with his family to Alamo Plaza, They can't talk about it without
outside what remains of the mis- choosing sides."
sion church and historic fort in According to the roster of the
San Antonio. He went with his dead kept by the Daughters of
family to a rally there for presi- the Republic of Texas,the eight
dental candidate Adlai Steven- native Texans who perished in
son when he was 6 or 7 years old. the battle at the Alamo all had
He stood in front of the crowd, Spanish surnames.
and along with many other chil- At the Courthouse-on-the-
dren,raised his hand when Ste- Square Museum in Denton,visi-
venson asked who would like to tors can learn about the other
be president one day. Texans who fought for the state's
As many historians also do, independence,including Stephen
Valdez considers the 13-day siege R Austin,Sam Houston and Jose
at the Alamo one of the most sig- Antonio Navarro. Museum staff
nificant battles in U.S.history. have been installing new exhibits
"It was very meaningful—so in the hallway,including a time-
many things in one battle,Val- line that helps visitors follow the
dez said. six flags of Texas and the progres-
A Texian delegation declared sion to statehood.
independence from Mexico on Gretel L'Heureux, the muse-
March 2,1836, at Washington- unA education director,said hun-
on-the-Brazos and created a dreds of area second-and third-
new government.But historians graders visit each year, priming
generally agree that those at the them for their first big foray —
Alamo could not have known which LTleureux describes as go-
about the nascent republic as ing about a mile wide,but an inch
the Mexican army,led by Santa deep—into Texas history in the
Anna, descended upon them. fourth grade.
What's more, historians agree Over the years, Valdez has
that the early Texans may have been driven to know more about
had a false sense of security the South Texas farmers who
about their position with Mexi- were conscripted by Santa Anna
co,having won earlier skirmish- to fight in the Mexican army.He
es and battles easily. suspects his great-grandfather
They underestimated Santa was conscripted to fight,because
Anna and his determination to their family farm was in the area
keep control over the territory. It was a cold winter.Accord-
As Santa Anna and the Mexican ing to historical accounts, few
army marched north from what men in the Mexican army had
is now Mexico and deeper into jackets, fewer still had shoes.
Texas,he conscripted farmers to Not all of the soldiers were given
fight,Valdez learned. weapons. Those who did have
For many Texans at that time, guns likely had little ammum-
the battle for the state's indepen- tion and no training.
dence would be the first of two Although the Texas revolu-
civil wars over state's rights and tionary soldiers didn't have much
slavery,a fact sometimes glossed more, Valdez said he believes
over in the elementary school that's why the siege at the Alamo
Dento ReeokdmChroin.-lele
An •d 1
Vol.112,No. 210/52 pages,4 sections Sunday,February 28, 2016 Denton,Texas Two dollars
Race relations scrutinized
Denton LULAC, NAACP Candidates running for 393rd Dis- Hispanic communities, almost all of ,
trict Court judge, U.S. congressional them listed the minority groups they '
chapters host forum District 26, Texas House District 64 have represented or worked with in the SPA.
and Denton County sheriff were on the past.
for state, county races panel.Of the three questions they were "I have worked side by side with mi-
asked,two were centered on race. nority officers in the field of battle,and
By Julian Gill "You're never going to deal with rac- we bleed blue when that time comes,
Staff Writer ism and things of that nature—where said They Murphree, who is running
running
people just have feelings—if you don't for sheriff'against current Sheriff Will
The Denton chapter ofthe League of talk about it; said Denton NAACP Travis.
United Latin American Citizens and President Willie Hudspeth."Quit hid- But Evan Stone, a candidate run-
the Denton County chapter of the ing it under the covers and talk about it" ning for 393rd District Court judge,
NAACP hosted a two-hour candidate Hudspeth said the overall purpose simply acknowledged his own white - ---- -
r " tk
1rAoc orPhret
forum Saturday at the Central Fire Sta- of the forum is to educate voters, of privilege. gi No
tion on Hickory Street, where those whom about 30 showed up to the event. "My white privilege is very signifi- Ranjani Groth/DRC
running for state and county offices 'When the candidates were asked cant,"Stone said,"But I have,however, Tracy Murphree,candidate for Denton County Sheriff,speaks Saturday at
highlighted what their priorities will be what they will do to establish relation- a candidate forum hosted by the Denton chapters of LULAC and NAACP at
if elected. ships with the African-American and See FORUM on 28A the Central Fire Station in Denton.
i
LOCAL Denton Record-Chronicle
From Page 3A
Forum `
Y
had a number of experiences
that have given me perspective,
and I think that's important"
Candidates also were asked
about their?Pinion of a hot but-
ton issue: the negative percep-
tion of police interactions with
minorities.
While most acknowledged
this is one of the bigger issues
facing the country, Murphree
and Travis blamed the press for Ranlani Groth/DRC
making it a national issue. Denton County candidates speak at a forum hosted by the
"The press is the reason that Denton chapters of LULAC and NAACP on Saturday morning
you're hearing all this," Travis at the Central Fire Station in Denton.
said."This has been going on for
years; this isn't anything new to have been buried. Stucky,however,emphasized
any of us.But the press has done The Republican candidates that improving the road infra-
a great job of blowing it out of running for District 64—Read structure is at the top of his list.
proportion" King, Rick Hagen and Lynn "One of the most important
Other candidates, like Con- Stucky—as well as Flanagan all factors that keeps this place via-
nor Flanagan — a Democrat said improving the education ble is being able to move from
seeking the state House District system is among their top priori- point A to point B,"he said.
64 seat—said the rise in tech- ties. JULIANGILL can be
nology and the 24-hour news "I want to eliminate the one- reached at 940-566-6845 and
cycle has brought these issues to size-fits-all government-man- zda Tzzritter at @ juliangill
light when they might otherwise dated testing,"Hagen said. music.
Denton LULAC honors scholars at banquet
By Caitlyn Jones ■
Staff Writer
rjones@dentonrc.com
The Denton League of United Latin Amer_ Braswell High
Man Citizens Council spent its weekend honor-
School senior
ing outstanding Hispanic high school seniors Audrey Guz-
and college students and giving them a boost
when it comes to paying for college. Shan receives
2,000
Local community leaders, honorees and her$Opera
their families packed into the SpringHill Suites Girls L erat-
by Marriott ballroom Saturday night for the an- ing sc Lead-
nual LULAC scholarship banquet. The eventars ers schol-
Satur-
featured a performance from the Denton High j day d ring
day during r
School Mariachi Los Broncos band and a the LULAC
Wilson
speech from Denton ISD Superintendent Jamie �i A Scholarship
The Denton LULAC Council w as estab- Banquet at
_ SpringHill
lished in 1981 as a nonprofit organization that Suites by
aims to improve education opportunities,eco- Marriott
nomic conditions and civil rights for Latinos in Denton.She
the area.. Ticket sales from last year's banquet will study
helped raise $95,000 in scholarships this year
for 28 students. r accounting at
Texas A&M
�.ram,..
See LULAC on 18A University
Sunday.April 29. 20IN •'—VAp"* this fall.
Jeff Woo/DRC
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Denton Record-Chronicle Thursday, August 15, 2013 3A LOCAL/
' z r
Q a �
Courtesy photo
Roland Vela participates in the dedication and groundbreaking of the G.Roland Vela Athletic
Complex on Saturday in Denton.
Vela praised during ceremony
By Keith Shelton adult sports. Anita Martinez Strickland,
For the Denton Record-Chronicle The mayor cited Vela's record chairman of the League of Latin
Several speakers, including of service to the city as a former American Citizens, praised Ve-
Mayor Mark Burroughs,praised City Council member, former la's leadership among the His-
the civic and education contri- chairman of the Airport Board panic community as well as in
buttons of retired University of and Denton representative to the city and the university.Vela
North Texas microbiologist Dr. the Texas Municipal Power helped establish the Faculty
Roland Vela on Saturday at the Agency., Senate and the tenure structure
dedication and groundbreaking "When I fast met Roland Ve- at UNT.LULAC nominated Ve-
of the G. Roland Vela Athletic la, I found him to be delightful la for the honor with Rudy Ro-
Complex. and very intelligent;'Burroughs drigues in the lead.
The complex on Riney Road said. He praised Vela's leader- She noted that Vela was the
just west of North Elm Street ship as"an author,a pilot,men- first Hispanic member of the
will provide facilities for sports for and teacher." Denton City Council.The nam-
such as soccer, rugby, football Vela was on the faculty at ing of the complex was "a very
and other adult leagues. Bur- UNT for 35 years. He has lec- fitting tribute to his work," she
roughs noted a shortage of adult tured in Spanish on microbiolo- said.
fields and said the project was 10 gy in many countries in Latin Burroughs said the new
years in the making. The fields America.A magazine once listed complex will bring tournaments
will be lighted and there cur- him among the 100 top Latinos to Denton and provide econom-
remly are no lighted fields for in Texas. is benefits.
0 �69
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O
00 10
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AA
The City of Denton invites you to attend a
groundbreaking ceremony
in recognition of the
G. Roland Vela Athletic Complex
on Saturday, Aug. 10 at 9 a.m.
North Lakes Park.
For more information,call Janie McLeod at(940) 349-8272
or email jmiie.mcleod( cityofdenton.com
What makes a hero?
'never know what to say when people tell trained together,but when the training
me,"Thank you for your service."What was done the draftees went to war and the
do yousay?People often want to call reservists went home.That sounded good.
everyone who served ahero.Well,I am not But my dad said,"Es undeber."It's an
ahero.I did not want to serve,but I was obligation.He was one ofthose people who
given no other choice.Heroes are guys like believe it is a privilege to live in America.He
my buddy Rick Salazar,who used to live in felt it was a"deber''to vote in every election,
Denton and is now even when he had to pay a poll tax He was
retired in Arkansas. delighted when the Supreme Court told Texas
He came home with we could no longer charge people to vote.He
two Bronze Stars and watched every election and loved to talk pol-
a Purple Heart.That's itics,always in Spanish Believe me,you can't
a hero. really cuss out the governor until you do it in
I mean,could I Spanish.My dad thought that serving in the
compare myselfto Spc. Army was hike paying income taxes:Nobody
Alberto Garza,of San wants to do it,but it has tobe done.So I went.
Antonio,who threw Ramiro The night before I flew overseas,my four
himself on a grenade big brothers,all deceased now,got together
and saved his entire Valdez with me,and we drank beer till I got drunk
squad?They gathered (which usually takes about two beers).I
enough pieces ofhim recall crying like a scared little boy,which I
to fill a coffin the size of a bread box.I talked guess I was,to my older brothers,saying,"I
to his mother,who spoke only Spanish,five don't want to the They just looked at the
years later,and she still cried every day.Can floor and sighed.
you believe that?Five years!That's ahero. So ifyou happen tobe one ofthose nice
Oh,I know,I obeyed orders and fol- people who says,"Thank you for your service;
lowed commands.I went where they sent please understand how humble it makes me
me and shot where they pointed,but I have feel.And how it reminds me ofthose scared
to confess that I used every excuse possible little boys who went to war and never came
to get out of humping in the jungle.Does home.And how I wish we could saythat to
that sound like a hero?Heroes are like my my buddies who are still over there,waiting
cousin Frank Luna of San Antonio,who for the chopper to take them away
was a prisoner of war and came home so So even though I am not a hero,I sup-
messed up that he suffered horrific night- pose I have the right,on behalf of all those
mares.He finally drank himself to death. who made our freedom possible,to say
May he rest in peace. "Happy Birthday,America:Es un deber.
The most heroic thing I did was not RAMIRO VALDEZ has been a fm-
dodge the draft.One of my friends was quentguest columnist in the Denton
ready to relocate to Canada if he got called. Record-Chronicle and is a retired area
Another told the draft board he wet the bed counselor:He welcomes feedback and sug-
every night(not true).Still another joined gestions via letters to the editor or emailed to
the reserves.He said reservists and draftees. rambam valdex@gmail com.
,I cal f<• 2o2,6
Denton e
Thursday,February 27, 2020 II Denton,Texas II Vol. 116,No. 209 II DentonRC.com 18 pages,3 sections II $1.00
Pol 'ice
buoll
trust with is anics
Chief say they wont arrest someone based on immigration status , r �
y
By Zaira Perez For a version of this story in Spanish, ship."They will host three more meet-
Staff Writer visit DentonRC.com. ings this month at the center.
zaira.perez@dentonrc.com Para una version en espanol, Eight people attended 'lies AVIR ~
Denton Police Chief Frank Dixon visita DentonRC.com. meeting, along with department per- -
assured Hispanic residents Tuesday sonnel.Amongthe attendees were local Emma Saidivar/For the DRC
evening during a community meeting held a meeting at the Martin Luther activists from the League of United Lat- The Denton Police Department began a four-night series Tuesday for
that officers would never arrest some- King Jr.Recreation Center for Hispan- in American Citizens and Movimiento the program Proyecto Amistad(Project Friendship)at the Martin Luther
one for being in the U.S.without legal is residents in hopes of building a rela- Cosecha Denton. King Jr.Recreation Center.The program was created"to build bridges of
permission. tionship and trust under the Proyecto - - friendship, support, education and understanding among the Hispanic
The Denton Police Department Amistad program, or"Project Friend- See AMISTAD on 5A community and law enforcement'in Denton.
From Page 1A they've arrested,but Dixon said race you are, Salas said. "You
A m i sta d the department doesn't issue can be from China,you can be
detainers based on immigration from Pakistan,it doesn't matter.
- - - -- status during the process. That question can be asked at
Denton police staff at the If someone already has a any time to,of course,be iden-
meeting acknowledged there's detainer, U.S. Immigration and tified if your information isn't in
some fear and tension toward Customs Enforcement has ac- the system or you're lying about
law enforcement from the His- cess to that information from who you are:'
panic community and said they local departments. The department also ac-
want to make an effort to rem- "If there's information con- knowledged that they don't have
edy that. tained within your charges ... many Hispanic staffers. Out of !
"The most important thing ICE has criteria that they can 195 staffers, 10 are Hispanic, f
that I want you all to know is also issue detainers for,or judg- Dixon said. Sgt. Donnie Carr,
that the Denton Police Depart- es can issue detainers, but the who is black, and Luis Marti-
ment is not interested in im- Denton Police Department does nez,a Hispanic officer,said they
migration status, ever, Dixon not issue detainers and we do don't get many applicants from
said."We're interested in keep- not call to let[ICE]know,Dix- their communities and that
ing you safe and our commu- on said. there isn't overwhelming inter-
nity safe" Dixon and police Sgt. Tony est from their communities to
Although Dixon said that is Salas said officers in Texas don't become police officers.
the department's official stance, have the authority to arrest The department will hold
attendees wanted him to clarify someone because of their inlmi- three more meetings next
what that really means, espe- gration status. month under Proyecto Amistad
cially in reference to Texas Sen- Critics of SB 4 claim the law from 6:30 to 8 p.m. this Tues.-
ate Bill 4.The law allows peace allows officers to racially profile day,on March 9 and March 16
officers to ask individuals about people. Salas said they don't at the Martin Luther King Jr.
their immigration status if they ask about someone's citizenship Recreation Center,1300 Wilson
choose• status or if they're from the U.S. St.
Denton police get a person's unless they can't identify some-
fingerprints,which are then up- one who doesn't have a form of Z41RA PEREZ can be
loaded to a national database identification. reached at 940&6-6882 and
while they process someone "It doesn't really matter what via Tzeritter at @zairalperez.
MONDAY ��`
�-� LOW HIGH Pagenaud wins � New local driver's
IN DEN- N 71 89 thrilling duel license office part
Partly cloudy,warm at Indy 500 of$200M plan
and windy/Weather,2a Sports, 1B State, 3A
D nton
now
Monday. May 27, 2019 II Denton, Texas II Vol. 115, No. 298 II DentonRC.coin 12 pages, 2 sections II $1.00
Ist Hispanic council mem name adorn-s ar
Athletic complex the north end of North Lakes Park.His G.Roland Vela
daughter Yolanda Vorel Vela represent- poses with his
dedicated for retired ed the family with a speech. family and ceremo-
Born in Eagle Pass and raised in San nial scissors during
professor Roland Vela Antonio, Roland Vela had his parents „ a ribbon-cutting
sign release forms to allow him to enlist Sunday at the
By Marshall Reid in the Navy at 17 years old.According long-awaited athlet-
Staff Writer to the University of Texas Voces Oral is complex named
marshall.reid@dentonrc.com History Project,Vela was eager to fight --t r y n in his honor. From
G. Roland Vela,assisted by a walk- in World War II.Regardless,he wasn't left:Jaime Vela,
er and accompanied by family,cut the able to join the effort until June 1945, Yolanda Vorel Vela,
ceremonial ribbon to a park bearing his at which point the war was almost over. s Roland Vela,Emma
name Sunday morning. By 1965,he had received his doctor- s Vela,Anna Maria
Vela,91,is a retired professor at the ate and had begun teaching microbi- 7 Trier and Jerry Vela.
University of North Texas, and author ology at UNT—then known as North : �f Roland Vela taught
Y
of 75 scientific papers,as well as books Texas State University — where he at UNT for 35 years
on Texas history,and the first Hispanic taught until retiring in 2000. -' and was the Denton
member ofthe Denton City Council. "He can be a very serious human City Council's first
All four of Vela's children were pres- being and a character all in the same 3,gu Hispanic member.
ent Sunday for the ribbon-cutting at the :
G. Roland Vela Athletic Complex on See VELA on 3A ;_ Marshall Reid/DRC
Den on Record-Chronicle
A
From Page 1A
Vela
breath, Yolanda Vela said to
Sundays crowd.
By the end of her speech,she M
had started to address her father
directly.
"So many Dentonites have
been encouraged by you because
you've always been so willing to
share your knowledge,give your
time and offer sound advice,she
said."But I know if I asked you,
Dad,you would say your great-
est accomplishment and your
best decision was to raise your
family here: Marshall Reid/DRC
Solomon Alade, one of the The G.Roland Vela Athletic Complex,which will open in Au-
20 doctoral students Roland gust at the north end of North Lakes Park, includes a new
Vela mentored while at UNT, playground.The park was dedicated Sunday morning.
attended Sunday's ribbon-cut-
ting.He said he's stayed in touch give their professor a picture of our parks or facilities within our
with his old professor through themselves. city that honored our Hispanic
the years. "If you go to his house today, community,Rodriguez said.
"We go to lunch together al- all of the pictures,all the 20 stu- Despite years of setbacks to
most every year for the last six, dents with Ph.D.s, our pictures arrive at this point, Rodriguez
seven years,Alade said,explain- are all on the walls in his house, was excited about what the park
ing a birthday ritual for his men- .Alade said. symbolizes for the future.
tor."Hopefully we can celebrate Upward of 60 people assem- "It brings a lot of honor and
one in September." bled under the overcast Sunday prestige to our growing Hispan-
Alade was pleased with the sky for a quasi-private park ded- is community and just the com-
park,and happier with the ges- ication Sunday morning. The munity in general in Denton;he
ture it represented. park is not expected to open to said."And we hope the place will
"This is beautiful; he said. the public until sometime in Au- be the first of several others."
`And I'm glad they finally named gust. The park has been roughly 15
something after him because Until then,the few kids pres- years in the making,outlasting
this guy has served his commu- ent at Sunday's dedication will two mayoral administrations
nity for so many years." remain the select few allowed to and so far stretching five years
Alade,who earned his Ph.D. use the playground. into Mayor Chris Watts'term.
under Vela in 1980, has since Two were grandchildren While no groups are yet of6-
retired from the pharmaceutical brought along by Rudy Ro- cially signed up to use the com-
industry. driguez, who was present as a plex's soccer fields, city officials
"He is a very demanding pro- representative of the League of said the Denton Rugby Club
fessor,"Alade said,laughing. United Latin American Citi- and various local soccer teams
Among the demands was zens,the organization that origi- are interested in using the area
the requirement that students nally nominated and lobbied for for practice and games.
publish at least three academic the park to be named after Vela. AL RSHALL REM can be
papers before they could obtain "We were concerned at the reached at 940-566-6862 and
Itheir doctorate.Also,they had to time that we hadn't had any of via Tw tter at @MarshallKReid
Testimonial to a life well lived
My friend and former colleague at Domingo Garcia,prominent Dallas
the University of North Texas, lawyer and national president of the
Emeritus Professor of Microbiol- League of United Latin American Citizens,
ogy G.Roland Vela, says of his UNT biology professor,"When
transitioned from his I ran for the Denton City Council at the
earthly home on Jan. age of 20,Dr.Vela provided mentoring
26.
support.He also helped many others of his
Soon after moving former students"
to Denton over 50 v To strengthen the university�s outreach
years ago with his to the Hispanic community,Dr.Vela also
wonderful wife, founded the annual UNT Hispanic Confer-
Emma,Roland got ence.A highlight of this annual event was
deeply involved in Rudy the special presentation of the G.Roland
the community. Rodriguez Vela meritorious award to an outstanding
uez
He understood the g DFW Hispanic for"Contributions Which
value of community Sr. Foster and Enhance Education for Hispan-
relationships and — is Students."
community building. The city of Denton recognized and
He demonstrated honored the deep significance of Dr.Vela's
these values through active participation in legacy and his contributions to our com-
a host of Denton boards and committees, munity in May 2019,when it dedicated the
and then,most notably,by his service as the G.Roland Vela Athletic Complex.Through
first Hispanic elected to the Denton City this enduring public facility,generations
Council. of children and their parents will come to
I met Dr.Vela,known to his friends and know this icon of our community,who was,
colleagues as Roland,when I moved to as the sign posted at its entrance states,a
Denton in 1975 to join the "U.S.(WW II)Navy veteran,UNT Profes-
faculty of Texas Woman's sor,Civic Leader,Mentor,Husband and
University.He was a most Father."
approachable,down to The great author and anthropologist
earth and unintimidating Margaret Mead once said:"Never doubt
yet high-profile scholar,a that a small group of thoughtful,com-
cultural trait of his deep mitted citizens can change the world."In
Tejano roots growing up many ways,that line defines Dr.Vela's im-
in the oldest part of San G.Roland pal life.He was one of those thought-
Antonio. Vela ful and committed individuals with a
In a similar experi- strong sense of missionary zeal who lived
ence shared by fellow academics Roberto up to Dr.Mead's vision.He opened the
Calderon and Gloria Bahamon,Roland doors of opportunity to so many indi-
was one of the first to welcome my wife, viduals,and for that we are grateful and
Rosemary,and I to our new community, inspired.
immediately helping us to feel at home In the Jan.28 article in this newspa-
and a part of something bigger than per announcing the death of Dr.Vela,
ourselves. his close friend,retired UNT professor
As a UNT professor,Dr.Vela embod- Don Smith,said,"He was a very intelli-
ied the university's mission,describing its gent man and a fantastic bacteriologist.
faculty"as a caring and creative community Roland made Denton better,and he made
(that)empowers our students and benefits UNT better"
the world around us"Roland Vela lived Without a doubt,my friend also made
those words through his magnetic energy, the world better.
generous friendship and a high expectation Dr.G.Roland Vela is in heaven now
of excellence. No intermediate steps for him,for he
This was fiirther evidenced in his formal possessed a caring heart and a giving soul.
and casual interactions with his students Rest in eternal peace,my friend.You've
and young emerging university scholars.He earned it.
believed in people and took them under his Dr.Vela's family has asked friends and
guidance,inspiring them to achieve their colleagues wishing to contribute to the
fullest potential. 2021 LULAC G.Roland Vela Memorial
As a Hispanic biologist,Dr.Vela's Scholarship Fund to submit a financial
influence and inspiration as a role model gift to:Angeles Mufioz,vice president for
to young Hispanics cannot be underesti- advancement,G.Roland Vela Memorial
mated. Scholarship Fund,Denton LULAC Council
According to Isabella Pifia Hinojosa, #4366,P.O.Box 981,Denton,TX 76201.
a longtime Denton resident and UNT For information,email lulac4366@gmail.
graduate,"Dr.Vela encouraged me and com.
other UNT Mexican-American students to
dialogue and feel welcome at NTSU/UNT. R UDYRODRIGUEZSR.is a longtime
Several students fi om the UNT Chicano/ member of the Leag w of United Latin
Mexican-American Student Organization American Citizens,a retired professor
were often invited to his home for inspi- ,from the University afNorth Texas and
rational talks that helped boast the Si Se Texas Woman's University,and a former
Puede(Yes,We Can`-Af-mnfidence among member of the Denton ISD Board of
the students." 7iztstees.
Fg4DM 6-7 2 21
2
4
DR , GERARD
R G L A N p V
ELA
"Veda 's
.�� i roph
,. Dedication
Saturday,September 18,2021
Welcome CY' Dedication
Alana Presley Taylor
Parks,Recreation"eautifacation Board Chair
Mayor Gerard Hudspeth
Monet Franklin
Public Art Committee Chair
Ray King
Artist, Veda's Trophy
_ Alfredo Sanchez
League of United Latin American Citizens Council
Vela Family