Esteban Torres facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Esteban Torres
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Torres in circa 1993
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| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 34th district |
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| In office January 3, 1983 – January 3, 1999 |
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| Preceded by | Dan Lungren |
| Succeeded by | Grace Napolitano |
| Personal details | |
| Born | January 27, 1930 Miami, Arizona, U.S. |
| Died | January 25, 2022 (aged 91) |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Arcy Sanchez |
| Children | 4 |
| Education | East Los Angeles College California State University, Los Angeles |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Army |
| Years of service | 1949–1953 |
| Rank | .svg){kind=small} Sergeant First Class |
| Battles/wars | Korean War |
Esteban Edward Torres (born January 27, 1930 – died January 25, 2022) was an important American politician. He worked in the United States House of Representatives for California from 1983 to 1999. This means he helped make laws for the country.
Contents
Growing Up: Esteban Torres's Early Life
Esteban Torres was born in Miami, Arizona, in 1930. His parents were from Mexico. He grew up in East Los Angeles, California, mainly with his mother, Rena Gómez. His father was a miner. Sadly, his father was sent back to Mexico during a time in the 1930s when many people of Mexican descent were deported.
Esteban went to East Los Angeles College and California State University, Los Angeles. He also took more classes at the University of Maryland, College Park and American University.
Esteban Torres's Career in Public Service
Serving His Country: Military and Diplomacy
Esteban Torres served in the United States Army from 1949 to 1953. After his military service, he became very active in helping workers get fair treatment. This is called the labor movement.
Because of his hard work, he was chosen to be the United States Ambassador to UNESCO. UNESCO stands for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. He worked in Paris, France, from 1977 to 1979. After that, he was a special helper to President Jimmy Carter from 1979 to 1981.
Working in Congress: A Voice for California
In 1974, Torres tried to become a member of the United States House of Representatives, but he didn't win that time. However, in 1982, he was elected as a Democrat. He served in the House of Representatives from 1983 until 1999.
During his time in office, he focused on issues important to Hispanic communities. In 1986, he played a big part in creating and passing the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. This law aimed to change how immigration was handled in the U.S.
He decided not to run for re-election in 1998. Grace Napolitano took his place in Congress. After leaving Congress, he continued to serve the public. He was a member of the California Transportation Commission from 1997 to 2007.
Esteban Torres's Family Life and Passing
Esteban Torres was married to Arcy Sanchez. They had four children together. He passed away on January 25, 2022, just two days before his 92nd birthday.
Honoring Esteban Torres: Legacy and Awards
Esteban Torres left behind an important legacy. Several things are named after him or created in his honor:
- The Esteban E. Torres NCLR-Harvard Mid-Career Fellowship Program. This program helps people learn more about public service. It is a partnership between NCLR and the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.
- Esteban Torres High School in Los Angeles, California, is named after him.
- In 2001, Whittier College gave him an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree. This is a special award that honors people for their good work.
See also
