Guadalupe Huerta

Guadalupe Huerta (born Guadalupe Verdugo on October 5, 1920 – January 14, 2000) was a Hispanic activist and lobbyist.

She worked as an Arizona lobbyist for the elderly in Washington during the Clinton administration.

She is also responsible for providing government housing for seniors and people with disabilities.

She received numerous community service awards, including the Jefferson Award for Public Service, and the Hon Kachina Award.

She was born Guadalupe Verdugo, in Glendale, Arizona.

Her mother was born into the Mesa family of Glendale.

The Mesa family was matriarchial family and Guadalupe's grandmother owned a great deal of real estate in Glendale, Arizona.

Her grandmother lived in one of the historic Victorian houses near the center of town.

"The house was full of life with all the children. Music from the baby grand piano could be heard coming from the parlor. We as children used to run through the vineyards eating grapes that surrounded the house"

Guadalupe Huerta's father worked hard to support his family until his death in the early 1930s.

This left the raising and financial support of all four children to Guadalupe's mother.

While life suddenly became difficult for the family, her mother always made sure the children were well cared for which always extended to other people in need.

During the Depression, families from the Dustbowl were saved from starvation by Guadalupe's mother.

Many poor families struggling in the Dustbowl would come to live for a short time until they could get back on their feet and moved on.

This open door policy and helping others in need was a policy that shape a part of the character of Guadalupe Huerta.

Guadalupe Huerta began working during WWII in the 1940s serving her country at Luke's Airforce base as a mechanic on the fuselages of airplanes later working on elite top secret jet fighters.

However, when the war ended, so did the jobs for many women.

Women working in men's former roles were told they were invaluable to America during the war; however once the men returned home they were told they were no longer needed.

This was a huge blow to Guadalupe Huerta, but used all these experiences and would apply them in the future.

State of Arizona

House of Representatives

Forty-fourth Legislature

Second Regular Session

instrumental in the establishment of Casa De Primavera, a Phoenix apartment complex built for aging and disabled residents in the 1970s.

She also gave

freely of her time, energy and abilities as a member of the El Rinconcito

She ably served in this capacity from 1978 to 1993, when she was made a lifelong honorary member after her failing health

forced her to retire.

Among her other accomplishments, Guadalupe Huerta was

2000 Introduced by Representatives Loredo, Avelar, Horton, Cardamone, Valadez, Gonzales,

Senators Lopez, Aguirre: Representatives Allen, Anderson, Binder,

Brimhall, Brotherton, Carpenter, Carruthers, Daniels, Dunbar, Foster,

Gardner M, Gardner W, Gerard, Gordon, Gray, Griffin, Hart, Hatch-Miller,

Horne, Huffman, Knaperek, Kyle, Landrum, Laughter, Leff, Maiorana, Marsh,

May, McGibbon, McLendon, Nichols, Norris, Pickens, Preble, Rios, Schottel,

Verkamp, Voss, Weason, Weiers, Wong, Senators Cummiskey, Cunningham,

Guenther, Hartley, Jackson, Mitchell, Richardson, Rios P, Solomon, Soltero

"..Over the years, she worked diligently to better the lives of individuals in the Mexican-American community and was a tireless advocate on behalf of elderly, poor and disabled individuals.

Guadalupe Huerta was one of the first people to be elected to the board

of Chicanos Por La Causa, a Hispanic advocacy group, and was re-elected to this position numerous times.