Vicente Trevino Ximenes

Vicente Trevino Ximenes, and in family circles known as Chente, passed away on February 27 and has joined his lifelong love Maria; son Estevan; sister Hercilia Toscano; and brothers Ben, Edward and Waldo. Vicente would say in moments of reflection, how his path through life was started in a small town in Floresville, Texas, serving his country on the world stage, being a voice for justice and equality for all people, returning to serve his State of New Mexico, his city of Albuquerque, his neighborhood and finally his beloved community at La Vida Llena. Woven throughout his service and accomplishments was his steadfast support and love of his “familia,” his son, Ricardo Ximenes and wife, Patricia; daughters Olivia and husband, Patrick Harrington, and Ana Maria and husband, Steve Baroch; daughter-in-law Patty Snipes; granddaughter Theresa Ximenes; our great granddaughters Chloe and Madison Ximenes-Merrill; brother Joe Ximenes; sister Magdalena Valdez; sister in law Mary-Lou Ximenes, and all our familia in San Antonio and Floresville, Texas, which is lovingly and happily large. Our father’s beautiful life story includes many special friends, so please consider this a personal note of thanks and gratitude for being a part of his life and sharing his adventure. As a family, we thank Mando and Jackie Lopez for the circle of love that you wrapped around our family. To our cousin Linda Ximenes: Chente loved your visits. To everyone who shared Vicente’s journey, like the Mexican corridas, that told the history of a country and the lives of its people, you are a part of his song and forever in our “canciones de nuestro padre” (songs of our father). A Rosary Service will be held Thursday, March 6, 2014 at 6:00p.m. at FRENCH – Lomas. A Graveside Service will be held Friday March 7, 2014 at 2:30 p.m. at Mt. Calvary Cemetary, 1900 Edith NE, 87102. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Vicente Ximenes Scholarship in Public Rhetoric & Community Literacy, https://www.unmfund.org/fund/vicente-ximenes-scholarship-in-public-rhetoric-community-literacy/ Birth Date: Dec. 5, 1919 Place: Floresville, Texas Family: Wife Maria and four children; Estevan (deceased) Ricardo, Olivia and Ana Maria EDUCATION Floresville, Texas High School Graduate, 1939 University of Texas, two undergraduate semesters, 1940 University of New Mexico, BA in Education and MA in Economics 1947-1951 (Passed Exams 1953) Honorary PhD in Humane Letters from Highlands University of New Mexico 1984 Honorary PhD in Humane Letter from University of New Mexico 2008 EMPLOYMENT Retired from U.S. Civil Service Private consultant in equal employment 1973 to 1983 Vice President for Field Operations National Urban Coalition Washington, D.C. 1972-1973 President Lyndon Johnson appointment U.S. Commissioner of Equal Employment Washington, D.C. 1967-1972 President Lyndon Johnson appointment Chairman, President’s Cabinet Committee on Mexican American Affairs The White House Washington, D.C. 1967-1969 Deputy Director U.S. Agency for International Development Panama City, Panama 1966-1967 Assistant Inspector General OEO Director Sargent Shriver’s Office Washington, D.C. 1965 Director Viva Johnson-Humphrey Clubs of America The Democratic National Committee Washington, D.C. 1964-1965 Program Officer and Economist U.S. Agency for International Development Quito, Ecuador 1961-1964 Research Associate UNM Bureau of Business Research University of New Mexico Albuquerque, NM, 1951-1961 Elementary School Principal Picosa, Texas 1940-1941 Chief Company Clerk Civilian Conservation Corps Floresville, Texas 1939-1940 MILITARY SERVICE Appointed U.S. Air Corps Cadet San Antonio, Texas 1941 Officer Graduate, 2nd Lieutenant Bombardier School Kirtland Air Base Albuquerque, New Mexico 1941 Flying Officer and Completed 50 combat missions in North Africa and Italy Bombardier in Flying Fortress, B-17 Awarded Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medal Cadet Flight Instructor and Squadron Leader Bombardier School San Angelo Air Base, Texas 1943-1946 Retired as Air Force Major Fort Sam Houston Hospital San Antonio, Texas 1947 AFFILIATIONS, APPOINTMENTS, AND AWARDS President Jimmy Carter Appointment Commissioner of White House Fellows The White House Washington, D.C. 1977-1981 Common Cause Public Service Achievement Award Washington D.C. 1982 State of New Mexico Distinguished Service Award Albuquerque, NM 1981 Chairman, Albuquerque Human Rights Board Albuquerque, NM 1977-1988 National Chairman American GI Forum of U.S. 1952 Founder of American GI Forum of New Mexico Organized 23 Forums in New Mexico as well as in Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, and California. President Robles of Panama awarded the country’s highest honor The Vasco Nunez de Balboa Panama City, Panama 1967 Member, Board of Trustees Catholic University of Albuquerque 1972-1977 Board Member, Reading is Fundamental Washington, D.C. 1970 Aztec Award Mexican American Opportunity Foundation Los Angeles, CA 1972 Albuquerque Human Rights Bridge Award Human Rights Board Albuquerque, NM 1990 De Colores Lifetime Achievement Award De Colores Board of Directors Albuquerque, NM 2000 Chairman of New Mexico Youth Conservation Corps Commission Appointed by New Mexico Governor in 1991 and recently appointed to the Commission by Governor Bill Richardson Santa Fe, NM 2003 MAJOR PUBLICATIONS Natural Gas in New Mexico (Masters degree thesis) UNM Bureau of Business Research, l954 Income and Employment in New Mexico UNM Bureau of Business Research 1961 Wages in the Construction Industry UNM Bureau of Business Research 1954 New Mexico Housing ad Mid Century UNM Bureau of Business Research 1957 Demand for Dentists in New Mexico UNM Bureau of Business Research, 1957 MAJOR APPOINTMENTS In 1967 President Johnson appointed me to a five year term as U.S. Commissioner of Equal Employment. As a Commissioner I filed Commissioner charges of discrimination against the major corporations of the U.S. The response from the corporations was to form affirmative action plans for their entire industry. I took the initiative on affirmative action because the Hispanic did not complain in order to trigger an EEO investigation. Affirmative action was our best route and we accomplished our goal. Affirmative action is here to stay. The Corporations bought into the plan because it was better than to go to court every time a person made a complaint of discrimination. In l967 President Johnson created the highest level committee he could name and made me Chairman of the Cabinet Committee on Mexican American Affairs. Members of my committee were Labor Secretary Willard Wirtz, Agriculture Secretary Orville Freeman, Health, Education, and Welfare Secretary John Gardner, Housing and Urban Development Secretary Robert Weaver, and War on Poverty Chief Sargent Shriver. In that position I was able to institutionalize affirmative action plans for Hispanics in all the Federal Government Agencies with the help of John Macy, the Commissioner of Civil Service. I directed the historic El Paso hearings in October l967 that was the turning point in the goal to become part of the mainstream of the U.S. for the Hispanics of the nation. Bi-lingual education became a reality when John Gardner, a member of my committee put money in his education budget to start the bi-lingual programs that are here to stay. I opened the doors to the White House for Hispanics in my position as Chairman of the Cabinet Committee. Dozens of manpower programs were started during my term as chairman with the help of Secretary Willard Wirtz. I convinced Secretary Willard Wirtz to put an end to the bracero program that brought in workers from Mexico to the grape and vegetable fields of California at the time that Cesar Chavez was trying to organize farm workers. The Model Cities programs in Austin, Albuquerque, El Paso, Sacramento, San Jose, San Antonio, and other Southwestern cities was the work of the Cabinet Committee. In 1977 President Jimmy Carter appointed me as Commissioner of White House Fellows. I served with former Secretary of HEW John Gardner, Lady Bird Johnson, White House Counsel Lloyd Cutler, Mrs. Tom Johnson of the Los Angeles Times, and others who chose the top scholars and future leaders to serve as White House Fellows in the offices of Cabinet members and the White House.

Vicente Trevino Ximenes

December 5, 1919 - February 27, 2014