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Edward Roybal
Edward R Roybal.jpg
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from California
In office
January 3, 1963 – January 3, 1993
Preceded by Gordon L. McDonough (redistricted)
Succeeded by Xavier Becerra (redistricted)
Constituency 30th district (1963–1975)
25th district (1975–1993)
Member of the Los Angeles City Council
from the 9th district
In office
July 1, 1949 – December 31, 1962
Preceded by Parley P. Christensen
Succeeded by Gil Lindsay
Personal details
Born
Edward Ross Roybal

(1916-02-10)February 10, 1916
Pecos, New Mexico, U.S.
Died October 24, 2005(2005-10-24) (aged 89)
Pasadena, California, U.S.
Political party Democratic
Spouse Lucille Beserra
Children 3, including Lucille
Education University of California, Los Angeles
Southwestern University
Military service
Allegiance  United States
Branch/service  United States Army
Battles/wars World War II

Edward Ross Roybal (February 10, 1916 – October 24, 2005) was an important American politician. He was a member of the Democratic Party. Roybal was the first Latino American to be elected to the Los Angeles City Council. He served on the council from 1949 to 1962.

Later, he served 15 terms in the U.S. House of Representatives. This was from 1963 to 1993. He represented parts of Downtown and East Los Angeles.

Biography of Edward Roybal

Edward Roybal was born on February 10, 1916, in Pecos, New Mexico. His family had deep roots in Albuquerque, New Mexico, going back many generations. In 1922, when Edward was six, his family moved to Boyle Heights. This was a neighborhood in East Los Angeles.

He graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1934. After high school, Roybal joined the Civilian Conservation Corps. This program helped young men find work during tough economic times. He later studied business at UCLA and law at Southwestern Law School.

Roybal also served in the Army. He worked as an accountant for an infantry unit during World War II.

On January 8, 2001, President Bill Clinton honored him. Roybal received the Presidential Citizens Medal for his public service.

Edward Roybal passed away on October 24, 2005, at age 89. He died in Pasadena, California. He was survived by his wife, Lucille, and their three children. These included Lucille Roybal-Allard, Lillian Roybal-Rose, and Edward Roybal Jr. He was buried at Calvary Cemetery, East Los Angeles.

Edward Roybal's Public Service

Community Work

In 1942, Roybal started working as a public health educator. He helped people learn about health with the California Tuberculosis Association. He later became the director of health education for the Los Angeles County Tuberculosis and Health Association. He held this job until 1949.

In 1949, Roybal helped create the Community Service Organization (CSO). He worked with local organizers like Fred Ross. This group brought together different religious, political, and labor groups. Their goal was to fight discrimination in their community. The CSO encouraged people to vote. Roybal was the president of this organization. His leadership helped him win his first election.

In 1960, Roybal also helped start the Mexican American Political Association (MAPA). He was its first president from 1960 to 1962.

After he retired from Congress, Roybal founded a special organization. It was called the Lucille and Edward R. Roybal Foundation. This foundation gives scholarships to Latino students. These students want to work in health care. He spent the rest of his life in Pasadena, California. He continued to support many candidates in local and national elections.

Serving on the City Council

Becoming a Council Member

Edward Roybal sworn in as Los Angeles City Council member
Edward Roybal being sworn in as a Los Angeles City Council member in 1949.

In 1947, Edward Roybal first ran for a seat on the Los Angeles City Council District 9. This district included neighborhoods like Boyle Heights and Chinatown. He ran again in 1949 and won. He defeated the person who held the seat before him.

Roybal was reelected many times. He served on the City Council for 13 years, until 1962. In his last term, he was the president pro tempore. This meant he led some council meetings.

Roybal's Stances on Issues

Roybal was known for speaking up for minority groups in the City Council. He was a recognized leader for people in East Los Angeles. He also strongly supported affordable public housing for families.

Here are some of his other important actions:

  • Protecting Rights, 1950: Roybal was the only one to vote against a law that he felt could unfairly target citizens. He believed it could put people at risk of false accusations.
  • Helping Young People, 1950: He disagreed with ideas for harsh punishments for young people. Instead, he suggested that police work more closely with groups that help youth. He wanted to solve problems, not just punish.
  • Public Health, 1953: He supported a law to require all dogs to be vaccinated against rabies. This helped keep the community safe and healthy.
  • Sports and Community, 1957: Roybal did not think Chavez Ravine was the best place for a Major League Baseball stadium. He thought Wrigley Field in South Los Angeles would be a better choice.
  • Fair Employment, 1958: He voted to create a commission to ensure fair hiring practices in the city. This was to make sure everyone had an equal chance at jobs.
  • Supporting Residents, 1959: Roybal spoke up for residents who were being moved from Bunker Hill. He wanted regular updates on their well-being during a big city project.
  • Standing Against Stereotypes, 1960: He demanded an apology from the Police Chief. This was after the Chief made comments that were seen as unfair and stereotypical towards Latino residents of East Los Angeles. Roybal believed such comments were wrong and harmful.

Running for Statewide Office

During his time on the City Council, many people encouraged Roybal to run for higher office. In 1954, he ran for lieutenant governor of California. He did not win this election.

In 1958, he ran for a seat on the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. This was a very close election. After several recounts, he lost by a small number of votes.

Serving in the U.S. Congress

Edward Roybal speaking on the phone
Edward Roybal speaking on the phone in 1977.

Despite his earlier losses, Roybal ran for Congress in 1962. He won the election for the 25th District. This district included his home neighborhood of Boyle Heights and East Los Angeles. He started his term in 1963. He became the first Latino Congressperson from California since 1879.

As a Congressman, Roybal was known for his calm and steady approach to making laws. He served on important committees. These included the Interior and Insular Affairs Committee and the Foreign Affairs Committee. He also supported major civil rights laws. These were the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Civil Rights Act of 1968, and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. These laws helped protect the rights of all Americans.

Starting in 1971, he served on the House Appropriations Committee for over 20 years. This committee decides how the government spends money. He wrote many bills to help groups he felt needed support. He often worked for veterans, the elderly, and Mexican-Americans.

  • In 1967, he wrote the first bill to give federal support for bilingual education. This helped immigrant students learn English while also learning in their native language.
  • As Chairman of the House Select Committee on Aging, he helped restore funding for health programs for senior citizens. He also supported more public housing for seniors.
  • In 1982, he worked to protect the Meals on Wheels program. This program delivers food to elderly people who cannot leave their homes. He also supported veterans getting preference in hiring for jobs.
  • In the early 1980s, he strongly argued for more funding for AIDS research. This was a very important issue at the time.

In 1976, he helped create the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC). This group supports Hispanic members of Congress. He also co-founded the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials. In 1986, he led the opposition to a new immigration law, the Simpson-Mazzoli Act.

An Investigation and His Re-election

In 1978, Edward Roybal was part of an investigation by the House Ethics Committee. This investigation looked into campaign donations. Roybal had received a donation from a South Korean lobbyist. He did not report it correctly. During the investigation, he mistakenly said he had not met the lobbyist. However, the lobbyist later confirmed they had met briefly years before. It was also noted that Roybal had voted against bills that would have helped the lobbyist. This showed there was no special deal.

After the investigation, the committee gave Roybal a formal warning, called a reprimand. This was the same action taken for others involved. The committee later clarified that his change in testimony was not intentionally dishonest. Despite this, Roybal ran for re-election that same year. He won with 70% of the votes. This showed that his community still trusted and supported him.

Roybal retired from Congress in 1993. He had served for 30 years. After he retired, his daughter, Lucille Roybal-Allard, became a Representative for a nearby district. Xavier Becerra, with Roybal's support, won the election for much of Roybal's former district.

Edward Roybal's Lasting Legacy

Edward Roybal left a big mark on Los Angeles and the nation. When he passed away, more buildings in Los Angeles were named after him than any other person.

  • The Edward R. Roybal Federal Building is in his home district in California.
  • The main campus of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia, is also named after him.
  • The University of Southern California has the Edward R. Roybal Institute on Aging. This institute studies issues affecting older adults.
  • In 2008, the Los Angeles Unified School District named a new school the Edward R. Roybal Learning Center.
  • In August 2022, the Roybal School of Film and Television Production Magnet opened. It is housed within the Learning Center. This school helps students from diverse backgrounds learn about film and TV production. Famous actors George Clooney and Grant Heslov helped start this school.

Every February, the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) holds a special event. It is called the Edward R. Roybal Legacy Gala [1]. This event honors his contributions to the nation and to NALEO.

The Metro Gold Line Edward R. Roybal Linea de Oro Eastside Extension opened in November 2009. This train line runs through East Los Angeles.

On November 24, 2014, President Barack Obama awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom. This is one of the highest civilian honors in the United States. He received it after his death.

See also

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