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| Dear LULAC member It is with sadness and pain to communicate the death of our leader, mentor and friend Mario Obledo. California LULAC is in the process of creating a LULAC council under the name of such a distinguish member of our league to honor his dedication and entire live to serve our communities. Rest in peace friend, brother and mentor. You will always be in our hearts. Benny Diaz, State Director California LULAC I am including a great writing by or brother Thomas Gonzalez, from Long Beach LULAC talking about our leader Mario Obledo: He showed the way to the end. For those who didn't know Mario Obledo, he was a scout for the Gente. He was California State Director of LULAC, and our National Director back in the day. He stood tall for Chicanos and we should never forget that he stood for honesty and integrity and he was a man of action. A few years back, when Arizona reactionaries put up a sign degrading Mexicanos, he led a small group, including Gil Flores, to the border and personally pulled it down. He was that kind of leader. He was ill for a long time, but that never stopped him. Last week Benny Diaz told him California LULAC would dedicate the coming year to him. He was very proud to have served, and to be remembered. Viva our brother Mario. ______________________________ SACRAMENTO, CA - Civil rights activist Dr. Mario Guerra Obledo, 78, died Wednesday afternoon with his wife Keda by his side, according to a family spokeswoman. Obledo's wife, Keda Alcala-Obledo, said he died Wednesday in Sacramento after suffering a massive heart attack. He was 78. Obledo, known as the "Godfather of the Latino Movement," was the founder and President of the National Coalition of Hispanic Organizations and was a civil rights leader among the Hispanic community for more than 50 years, said Melinda Guzman, the family's spokeswoman and attorney. Mr. Obledo was a Sacramento resident. He was also a great leaders not only for his fight for civil rights but also for his humanitarian causes. As California Secretary of Health and Welfare from 1975 to 1981, Guzman said Obledo was instrumental in bringing thousands of Hispanics into state government, declaring it his greatest accomplishment of life." He received the Presidential Medal of Freedom Award, from President Clinton in 1998., this country's highest civilian award, for his advocacy and civil rights accomplishments. He also held local, district, state and national positions in the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC). As national presidents of LULAC Obledo extended the influence the organization into the international arena, according to Guzman. |
Obledo, who held a bachelor's degree in pharmacy as well as a doctorate of law degree, served as then Gov. Jerry Brown's secretary of health and welfare from 1975 to 1982.
During his tenure, he was credited with encouraging Latinos to enter state government.
He was co-founder of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund, or MALDEF, and the Hispanic National Bar Association.
Obledo also served on the board of the Martin Luther King Jr. Federal Holiday Commission and was a faculty member of the Harvard School of Law.
Keda Alcala-Obledo said she had her husband spent much of their time in recent years engaged in humanitarian work in Mexico and the United States. Mario Obledo was the recipient of the OHTLI award, the highest award bestowed by Mexico on a foreigner.
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