Mario G. Obledo facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mario G. Obledo
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| 41st President of the LULAC | |
| In office 1983–1985 |
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| Preceded by | Tony Bonilla |
| Succeeded by | Oscar Moran |
| Personal details | |
| Born | April 9, 1932 San Antonio, Texas |
| Died | August 18, 2010 (aged 78) Sacramento, California |
| Nationality | American |
| Spouse | Keda Alcalá-Obledo |
| Occupation | Attorney, civil rights activist, California Secretary of Health and Welfare |
Mario Guerra Obledo (April 9, 1932 – August 18, 2010) was an important American leader. He worked hard for civil rights for many years. People called him the "Godfather of the Latino Movement" in the United States. He helped create many important groups. These groups made sure Latino interests were heard in U.S. politics. He also served as California's Secretary of Health and Welfare. This was a very important job in the state government.
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Mario Obledo's Early Life
Mario Guerra Obledo was born in San Antonio, Texas. His parents were immigrants from Mexico. He grew up in a big family, with 11 brothers and sisters. Mario was a dedicated student. He first earned a degree in pharmacy in 1957. Later, he got a law degree in 1960. For three years, he worked as an assistant attorney general in Texas.
Fighting for Civil Rights
In 1967, Mario Obledo helped start a very important group. It was called the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund (MALDEF). This group worked to protect the legal rights of Mexican Americans. Mario was their first general counsel, which means he was their main lawyer.
Later, he became the executive director of MALDEF. He wanted MALDEF to be like a "law firm for the Latino community." He focused on cases about jobs and language rights. This helped many people get fair treatment.
Important Roles in Government and Beyond
After working with MALDEF, Mario Obledo taught at Harvard Law School. In 1974, the new governor of California, Jerry Brown, asked for his help. Governor Brown then offered Mario a big job. Mario became California's Secretary of Health and Welfare. This made him the highest-ranking Mexican American official in California at that time. He held this important position from 1975 to 1982.
Mario Obledo also helped start other important groups. He co-founded the Hispanic National Bar Association. He also helped create the National Coalition of Hispanic Organizations. He was an early leader of the Southwest Voter Registration Education Project. This project helped many people register to vote.
He was also the president of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) in the mid-1980s. LULAC is one of the oldest and largest Latino civil rights organizations in the U.S. From 1988 to 1993, he was the chairman of the National Rainbow Coalition.
Later Years and Legacy
In his later years, Mario Obledo continued to be an activist. He spoke out against unfair advertising about immigrants. He also promoted a boycott of the Taco Bell chihuahua. He felt it showed a stereotype of Mexican people.
In 1998, President Bill Clinton gave Mario Obledo a special award. It was the Presidential Medal of Freedom. This is one of the highest honors a civilian can receive in the U.S. President Clinton said Mario had "created a powerful chorus for justice and equality."
In May 2010, Mario Obledo received an honorary doctor of laws degree. This was from California State University, Sacramento. Mario Obledo passed away on August 18, 2010, in Sacramento, California. He was 78 years old. His work greatly impacted civil rights and Latino communities in the United States.
