A MEMORIAL

RECOGNIZING VICENTE T. XIMENES' COMMITMENT TO ADVOCACY FOR HISTORICALLY UNDER-REPRESENTED GROUPS.

     WHEREAS, Vicente T. Ximenes was born on December 5, 1919 in Floresville, Texas; and

     WHEREAS, Vicente T. Ximenes is a 1939 graduate of Floresville high school, attended the university of Texas, completed a bachelor's degree in education and a master's degree in economics from the university of New Mexico and received an honorary Ph.D. in humane letters from New Mexico highlands university; and

     WHEREAS, he was appointed as a United States air corps cadet and was an officer graduate, second lieutenant, at the bombardier school at Kirtland air base; and

     WHEREAS, Vicente T. Ximenes served his country in World War II as a flying officer, completing fifty combat missions over north Africa and Italy, as bombardier in a B-17 flying fortress; and

     WHEREAS, Vicente T. Ximenes was awarded the distinguished flying cross and air medal, was a cadet flight instructor and squadron leader at the bombardier school at San Angelo air base, Texas, before retiring as an Air Force major from fort Sam Houston hospital, San Antonio, Texas, in 1947; and

     WHEREAS, his professional career reflects an illustrious and distinguished life of service beginning as a chief company clerk in the civilian conservation corps, then as an elementary school principal in Picosa, Texas, continuing after World War II as a research associate at the university of New Mexico bureau of business research, followed by a position with the United States agency of international development in Quito, Ecuador, as program officer and economist; and

     WHEREAS, upon return to the United States, Vicente T. Ximenes accepted the position of director of the viva Johnson-Humphrey clubs of America for the democratic national committee in Washington, D.C., and subsequently, as assistant inspector general for the office of economic opportunity. He then returned to the United States agency of international development to serve as deputy director in Panama City, Panama; and

     WHEREAS, called back to Washington, Vicente T. Ximenes was appointed by President Lyndon Johnson to be chairman of the president's cabinet committee on Mexican-American affairs and as United States commissioner of equal employment; and

     WHEREAS, as chairman of the cabinet committee on Mexican-American affairs, he was able to institutionalize affirmative action plans for Hispanics in all the federal government agencies with the assistance of John Macy, the commissioner of civil service; and

     WHEREAS, Vicente T. Ximenes directed the historic El Paso hearings in October 1967 that were the turning point in the goal to become part of the mainstream of the United States for the Hispanics in the nation; and

     WHEREAS, his final civil service position, before becoming a private consultant in equal employment, was as vice president for field operations for the national urban coalition; and

     WHEREAS, his civic volunteer services are as impressive as his professional accomplishments and include: serving on the boards of reading is fundamental, the catholic university of Albuquerque and the Albuquerque human rights board; founder of the American GI forum of New Mexico; national chairman of the American GI forum of the United States; appointed by President Jimmy Carter as commissioner of white house fellows; and chairman of New Mexico youth conservation corps commission; and

     WHEREAS, Vicente T. Ximenes is the recipient of numerous awards including: the common cause public service achievement award, the state of New Mexico distinguished service award, the Vasco Nunez de Balboa, Panama's highest honor and awarded by the president of Panama; the Aztec award by the Mexican-American opportunity foundation; the Albuquerque human rights bridge award by the Albuquerque human rights board; and the De Colores lifetime achievement award by the De Colores board of directors; and

     WHEREAS, Vicente T. Ximenes has enjoyed the love and support of his wife, Maria, and his three children, Ricardo, Olivia and Ana Maria, and cherishes his memories of his late son, Estevan;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that Vicente T. Ximenes be recognized for his record of advocacy for historically under-represented groups and legacy of promotion of social justice; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that his awareness that civil rights reform is not a once-done-always-done endeavor be shared with all New Mexicans; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a copy of this memorial be transmitted to Vicente T. Ximenes.