IOWA LULAC HISTORY 1957-1972
by: Jesse Mosqueda and Felix Sanchez June 3, 1972

It was during the late 1950's that LULAC was expanded to the Midwest under the leadership of the late Felix Tijerina. Up until this time it had served only; the Southwest part of the country, where the largest concentration of Mexican people lived. By 1959, in just two years, councils were organized in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin, respectively.

It was during the late 1950's that LULAC was expanded to the Midwest under the leadership of the late Felix Tijerina. Up until this time it had served only; the Southwest part of the country, where the largest concentration of Mexican people lived. By 1959, in just two years, councils were organized in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin, respectively.

The late Val Hernandez, perhaps the greatest organizer the League has ever known, was the man instrumental in organizing the Midwest. It was he, Bob Alaniz, Charles Toribio and others who introduced the League to Fort Madison and Des Moines in the fall of 1956.

After many meetings, Fort Madison Council #304, and Iowa's pioneer council, was organized on February 17, 1957, with installation of the following officers: Susana Pavon, president; Jesse Guzman, vice president; Eleanor Guzman, recording secretary; Ernestine Mendez, corresponding secretary; Sebastian Alvarez, treasurer; Felix Sanchez, guard; Johnny Mendez, guide; Lupe Reyes, publicity director; and Benito Ramirez, photographer. This pioneer council has produced its share of dedicated leaders, among them: Felix Sanchez, Jesse Guzman, Susana Pavon, Eleanor Guzman, Sebastian Alvarez, and others. Today, with more than 60 members, it is very proud of is clubhouse and its many varied activity programs.

Although, the Des Moines community had been visited in 1956, it was not until the middle of 1957, that the old Latin American Club, with more than 100 members, voted to merge with LULAC. Therefore, on June 16, 1957, an installation banquet was held at the Fort Des Moines Hotel, at which time the following officers of men's Council 306 and Ladies Council 308 were installed: Carlos Barahona, president; Manuel Briseno, vice president; Alex Pabon, secretary; Bill Rocha, treasurer; Manuel Murillo, Sgt. at Arms; Joe Hernandez, guard; Hohn Munoz, guide; Richard Medina, publicity director; Alfred Sanchez, legal advisor; and Father Daniel Clarke, chaplain. Ladies Council 308: Ila Plasencia, president; Aurora Lumadue, vice president; Helen Valdez, secretary; Mary Campos, treasurer; Lucille Garcia, Sgt. at Arms; Charlotte Bernardino, publicity director; Alfred Sanchez, legal advisor; and father Daniel Clarke, chaplain.

A few days previous to the installation banquet, the National Office notified Jesse Mosqueda, newly appointed Regional Governor, that Bill Rocha and Susana Pavon had been appointed District Governors of Districts #1 and #2, respectively. They were installed as District Governors that same evening. Bill Rocha resigned the office of treasurer at that time.

The two Des Moines councils functioned independently, until 1965, when the two councils were merged into one. Today, Council 306 is very active, with its annual Coronation Ball and Black and White Ball, as their outstanding functions. Proceeds from these projects support their scholarship fund. Among its outstanding leaders are Bill Rocha, Lupe Pabon, Ila Plasencia, Vigie Rocha, James Briseno and Jesse Mosqueda.

The expansion movement of Iowa LULAC was continued by a group of Des Moines LULACs and within a year Mason City was brought into the fold. Thus on May 31, 1958, at Iowa's first annual convention in Des Moines, Mason City Council #319's officers were installed by the late great national president, Feliz Tiljerina. They were: Ray Garcia, president; Joe Torres, vice president; Cornelio Monteon, secretary; Art Cepeda, treasurer; Albert Flores, Sgt. at Arms; Luther Morales, guard; Nick Aguilera, guide; Albert Herrera, publicity director; Benjamin Bombela, membership chairman; and Father Paul Steimel, chaplain. This council, very active with its scholarship program, produced two scholarship sinners during the short eight years it was in LULAC before folding up in 1966. The end of the council came as result of personal work schedules of several of the leaders, which conflicted with LULAC work. It too, boasts a list of dedicated leaders, among them, Joe Torres, Ray Garcia, Joe Gallo and Art Cepeda.

Now that the North part of Iowa was organized at that time, the Des Moines organizers, turned their efforts to the East, and within another year Davenport Council #10 was in the Iowa LULAC fold. Their officers were installed at the 2nd annual Iowa State Convention in Fort Madison on May 30, 1959, they were: Henry Vargas, president; Ernest Rodriguez, vice president; Rudolph Segura, secretary; Florencio Ramirez, treasurer; Efrain Vinajeras; 1st Sgt. at Arms and Genaro Pena, 2nd Sgt. at Arms. Council #10, dubbed "Iowa's Most Active Council," is no doubt just that.

Among its activities are the annual Fiesta which is celebrated during the month of September; its busy club house; scholarship programs and it has led the field in the fair housing and civil rights movements. Among their list of outstanding leaders are: Henry Vargas, Ernest Rodriguez, John Terronez and Jesse Ramirez.

During the early and mid 60's efforts were made to organize Council Bluffs and Muscatine. No success was accomplished in Council Bluffs; however, Muscatine did form a council but folded before it got off the ground.

Efforts also have been made thru the years to organize councils in Fort Dodge and Waterloo, but to no avail. Perhaps the young emerging leadership from our beloved LULAC will someday expand into these areas and even reactivate Muscatine and Mason City. This is a challenge. And perhaps a challenge that can be met successfully, for the first time in our long history, has there ever been three candidates vying for the office of state director.

This is the chronology of Iowa's State Directors, State Conventions, State Scholarship Winners, and State LULAC Man and Woman of the Year.

NOTE: As noted above certain data are missing, as it was not available at the time the history was written. Writers recommend a committee be appointed to do further research and make corrections, additions or deletions, as needed. This history and chronological data were written and compiled from records available.

It must be note, also, that this history was prepared in cooperation with Brother Felix Sanchez. Brother Sanchez did the research work and Brother Mosqueda the recording and compiling. If errors were committed, they were errors of omission and not of commission.

This is the chronology of Iowa's State Directors, State Conventions, State Scholarship Winners, and State LULAC Man and Woman of the Year

DIRECTOR	YEAR	CONVENTION	SCHOLARSHIP WINNER
J. Mosqueda, DM	57-58	Appointed
J. Mosqueda, DM	58-59	Des Moines 1st
B. Rocha, WDM	59-60	Fort Madison 2nd
H. Vargas, D	60-61	Mason City 3rd
J. Torres, MC	61-62	Davenport 4th
V. Bejarano, DM	62-63	Des Moines 5th	Richard Pavon, DM, 1st
R. Lumadue, DM	63-64	Fort Madison 6th	Robert Munoz, FM, 2nd
Joe Gomez, DM	64-65	Davenport 7th	Paul Espinosa III, MC, 3rd
P. Espinosa, MC	65-66	Mason City 8th	Anthony Navarro, D, 4th
J. Mosqueda, DM	66-67	Des Moines 9th	Pamela Espinosa, MC, 5th
J. Mosqueda, DM	67-68	Davenport 10th	Lawrence Mosqueda, DM, 6th
J. Terronez, D	68-69	Fort Madison 11th	Gary Lozano, FM, 7th
J. Terronez, D	69-70	Des Moines 12th	Josephine Salazar, DM 8th
B. Rocha, WDM	70-71	Davenport 13th	Joseph Hernandez, Jr., DM 9th
B. Rocha, WDM	71-72	Fort Madison 14th	Daniel Garza, DM, 10th
MAN OF THE YEAR
WINNER	YEAR	CONVENTION	COMMENT
Joe Gallo, MC	58-59	Des Moines, 1st
Ernest Rodriguez, D	59-60	Fort Madison, 2nd
Ray Garcia, MC	60-61	Mason City, 3rd
J. Mosqueda, DM	61-62	Davenport, 4th
J. Torres, MC	62-63	Des Moines, 5th
Humberto Jimenez, D	63-64	Fort Madison, 6th
	64-65	Davenport, 7th	Not available
65-66	Mason City, 8th	Not available
	66-67	Des Moines, 9th	Not available
Bill Rocha, WDM	67-68	Davenport, 10th
	68-69	Fort Madison, 11th	Not available
Salvador Lopez, D	69-70	Des Moines, 12th
Lupe Mendez, FM	70-71	Davenport, 13th
	71-72	Fort Madison, 14th	Not available
WOMAN OF THE YEAR
WINNER	YEAR	CONVENTION	COMMENT
Conchita Bejarano, DM	58-59	Des Moines, 1st
Lupe Reyes, FM	59-60	Fort Madison, 2nd
Eleanor Guzman	60-61	Mason City, 3rd
Lila Flores, D	61-62	Davenport, 4th
Joan Lopez, D	62-63	Des Moines, 5th
Aurora Lumadue, DM	63-64	Fort Madison, 6th
	64-65	Davenport, 7th	Not available
	65-66	Mason City, 8th	Not available
	66-67	Des Moines, 9th	Not available
Lupe Pabon, DM	67-68	Davenport, 10th
Frances Ramirez, FM	68-69	Fort Madison, 11th
Ila Plasencia, WDM	69-70	Des Moines, 12th
	70-71	Davenport, 13th	Not available
	71-72	Fort Madison, 14th	Not available
Iowa LULACS Elected or Appointed to National Office
NAME	OFFICE	YEAR	CONVENTION
Susana Pavon, FM	2nd National VP	1958	Laredo
Vigie Rocha, DM	2nd National VP	1960	San Antonio
Bill Rocha, WDM	Organizer

NATIONAL SUPREME COUNCIL MEETINGS HOSTED BY IOWA
DATE	HOST COUNCIL	NATIONAL PRESIDENT IN OFFICE
November 30, 1965	Des Moines #306 & #308	Hon. Paul Andow
April 22, 1967	Davenport #10	Hon. Alfred Hernandez
NOTE: As noted above certain data are missing, as it was not available at the time the history was written. Writers recommend a committee be appointed to do further research and make corrections, additions or deletions, as needed. This history and chronological data were written and compiled from records available.