Dr. Vicente Ximenes
Vicente Ximenes grew up in a melting pot of a community in Floresville, Texas. In a time of racism and prejudice Dr. Ximenes managed to overcome adversity and odds to excel in his education. From the 100 students that began school with him at the segregated “Mexicano” school only 5 would ever graduate from high school. Dr. Ximenes went on to college, and he obtained a BA in Education and an MA in Economics (1947-1951) from the University of New Mexico. Later he was awarded an honorary PhD in Humane Letters from Highlands University of New Mexico (1984).
Dr. Michelle Hall Kells, Dr. Vicente Ximenes and family
Dr. Ximenes went on to become the first Hispanic appointed US Commissioner of Equal Employment, and he worked with President Johnson on Mexican-American affairs.
Through this collaboration, he was appointed Chairman of the President’s Cabinet Committee on Mexican American Affairs by President Lyndon Johnson in 1967.
Since that time Dr. Ximenes has continued to advocate for equal rights across the country, and he is an active public servant in New Mexico.
