Interview No. 1491,
2010
University of Texas at El Paso
Interview No. 1491, Mike Garcia
Combined Interviews
Mike was brought to El Paso by his godmother to attend school at Lydia Patterson Institute in El Paso, Texas when he was 11 years old. Mike had his first job working at a bowling alley in El Paso at the age of 12. At the age of 15 years old, he got married. Mike cared for and loved his mother Benita very much. He recalls that she taught him to better his life, to better his family, to do the proper thing, to be honest with himself, and to have self-respect. Mike has used these concepts to build his …
Interview No. 1491,
2010
University of Texas at El Paso
Interview No. 1491, Mike Garcia
Paso del Norte Entrepreneurship Oral History Project
Mike was brought to El Paso by his godmother to attend school at Lydia Patterson Institute in El Paso, Texas when he was 11 years old. Mike had his first job working at a bowling alley in El Paso at the age of 12. At the age of 15 years old, he got married. Mike cared for and loved his mother Benita very much. He recalls that she taught him to better his life, to better his family, to do the proper thing, to be honest with himself, and to have self-respect. Mike has used these concepts to build his …
M, Ken,
2010
Fordham University
M, Ken, Fcrh Honors Program
FCRH Honors Program Oral History Project
Dr. Ken M., a mathematics major from the class of 1962, dedicated his life to the study and teaching of mathematics and its applications in computer and information science. After graduating from the Fordham honors program, he studied on an NSF fellowship, a Woodrow Wilson Fellowship, and a NATO post-doctoral fellowship after obtaining his Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley. He has taught and conducted research at Princeton University, the Rockefeller University, the University of Bruxelles, the University of Paris, and multiple CUNY universities. His work in logic, computational science, and artificial intelligence is highly regarded and has been …
Interview No. 1490,
2010
University of Texas at El Paso
Interview No. 1490, Leigh Kersh
Paso del Norte Entrepreneurship Oral History Project
Leigh Kersh was born in El Paso, Texas to Moe and Rosie Kersh. Leigh attended The University of Texas at El Paso and The University of Texas at Austin before attending New York University and graduating with a degree in Physiology. While Leigh finished her degree at NYU, she worked for Federal Express in customer service and then once she graduated she became their corporate physiologist. Leigh credits her time with Federal Express for learning how to do customer service, how to run an operation, and how to train the right people for the company. Leigh grew up watching her …
Interview No. 1490,
2010
University of Texas at El Paso
Interview No. 1490, Leigh Kersh
Combined Interviews
Leigh Kersh was born in El Paso, Texas to Moe and Rosie Kersh. Leigh attended The University of Texas at El Paso and The University of Texas at Austin before attending New York University and graduating with a degree in Physiology. While Leigh finished her degree at NYU, she worked for Federal Express in customer service and then once she graduated she became their corporate physiologist. Leigh credits her time with Federal Express for learning how to do customer service, how to run an operation, and how to train the right people for the company. Leigh grew up watching her …
Interview No. 1693,
2010
University of Texas at El Paso
Interview No. 1693, Elisa Rodriguez Sister
Combined Interviews
Elisa Rodriguez was born on May 15, 1936 during a home birth in the Segundo Barrio. She and her family lived on Santa Fe Street. Her father was born in Torreon, Mexico. His father died when he was 1, and his mother remarried and had two other children. Her mother was born in San Elizario. She was one of seven children. Sisters of Loretto started in San Elizario in 1878. There was an early connection between her mother and the convent. She went from El Paso High School to St. Joseph High School and graduated from there. Rodriguez speaks about …
Interview No. 1489,
2010
University of Texas at El Paso
Interview No. 1489, Don Shapiro
Combined Interviews
Don Shapiro was born and raised in the New York Metropolitan Area. In the 1930’s Don’s father Isadore worked in the fur district in New York City. When Don graduated from high school, he joined the United States Naval Reserve during World War II. After WWII, Done atteneded NYU and got a degree in accounting. After graduating NYU, he became a door to door salesman in New York City. After a time in New York, Don and his friend Harry Katz decided to drive cross country to California and work to earn money along the way. They started by driving …
Interview No. 1489,
2010
University of Texas at El Paso
Interview No. 1489, Don Shapiro
Paso del Norte Entrepreneurship Oral History Project
Don Shapiro was born and raised in the New York Metropolitan Area. In the 1930’s Don’s father Isadore worked in the fur district in New York City. When Don graduated from high school, he joined the United States Naval Reserve during World War II. After WWII, Done atteneded NYU and got a degree in accounting. After graduating NYU, he became a door to door salesman in New York City. After a time in New York, Don and his friend Harry Katz decided to drive cross country to California and work to earn money along the way. They started by driving …
Interview No. 1464,
2010
University of Texas at El Paso
Interview No. 1464, Silbano Robledo
Combined Interviews
Silbano Robledo was very tired of working in his town from 6:00 am to 6:00 pm without a good salary. After he got married, he started a small business selling peanuts. Mr. Robledo traveled to Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico to get hired as a bracero; He worked in El Valle picking cotton and then traveled to La Mesa de Lobos and worked doing the same job. He worked as a bracero for three years until 1959. He worked from twelve-hour days with a salary of $ 7.00 dollars per day. Robledo lived with his co-workers and they all together bought …
Interview No. 1488,
2010
University of Texas at El Paso
Interview No. 1488, Ruben E. Guerra
Combined Interviews
Mr. Guerra was born and raised in McAllen, TX. He speaks about how his family was one of the founding families in McAllen and started as a land clearing business. Mr. Guerra said both sides of his family came from different socioeconomic classes but each side was hardworking. He worked at a small convienience store his family owned during the summer when he was about eight to ten years old. When he was in the eighth grade, his family moved to El Paso at the urging of doctors who said his bother would die if he did not move to …
Interview No. 1487,
2010
University of Texas at El Paso
Interview No. 1487, Gustavo Rodriguez
Paso del Norte Entrepreneurship Oral History Project
Gustavo learned the glass trade while growing up and working alongside his father. The name of his father’s business was Rodriguez Glass. Gustavo’s father had a hard time purchasing glass at an honest price and would purchase glass from Ciudad Juárez, México until a man from Amarillo approached them about buying the glass from him. Gustavo met his wife Elma when they were in high school and they married five years later. Gustavo was in the United States Navy Construction Battalion Reserves and was drafted into the Vietnam War in the early 1960’s. When Gustavo returned home, he had $500 …
Interview No. 1486,
2010
University of Texas at El Paso
Interview No. 1486, Elma Rodriguez
Paso del Norte Entrepreneurship Oral History Project
Elma met her husband Gus when they were in high school and they married five years later. Gus served in the Vietnam War and when he got out he was given $500.00 so he and Elma decided to start a business. At the time they lived on Basil St. and they started their business out of their home garage and so they named their company Basil Glass Incorporated. Another reason why they named their company Basil Glass instead of their last name is because they wanted to avoid as much discrimination as possible. As Hispanic entrepreneurs starting a business in …
Interview No. 1486,
2010
University of Texas at El Paso
Interview No. 1486, Elma Rodriguez
Combined Interviews
Elma met her husband Gus when they were in high school and they married five years later. Gus served in the Vietnam War and when he got out he was given $500.00 so he and Elma decided to start a business. At the time they lived on Basil St. and they started their business out of their home garage and so they named their company Basil Glass Incorporated. Another reason why they named their company Basil Glass instead of their last name is because they wanted to avoid as much discrimination as possible. As Hispanic entrepreneurs starting a business in …
Interview No. 1485,
2010
University of Texas at El Paso
Interview No. 1485, Paul Zacour
Paso del Norte Entrepreneurship Oral History Project
Paul Zacour took real estate classes and began to sell real estate when he was 19 years old. After graduating from The University of Texas at El Paso in 1986, Paul moved to Austin, Texas to be a part of the real estate market boom. In 1992, Paul moved back to El Paso, Texas. He began to work with Fred McKinstry doing appraisals together. The name of the company then became McKinstry-Zacour and Associates. When the opportunity to buy the company arose, Paul took it and Fred McKinstry semi-retired. The company then morphed into Zacour and Associates. Paul’s company works …
Interview No. 1485,
2010
University of Texas at El Paso
Interview No. 1485, Paul Zacour
Combined Interviews
Paul Zacour took real estate classes and began to sell real estate when he was 19 years old. After graduating from The University of Texas at El Paso in 1986, Paul moved to Austin, Texas to be a part of the real estate market boom. In 1992, Paul moved back to El Paso, Texas. He began to work with Fred McKinstry doing appraisals together. The name of the company then became McKinstry-Zacour and Associates. When the opportunity to buy the company arose, Paul took it and Fred McKinstry semi-retired. The company then morphed into Zacour and Associates. Paul’s company works …
Interview No. 1692,
2010
University of Texas at El Paso
Interview No. 1692, Eva Marie Salas Sister
Combined Interviews
The location of this interview took place at Teirra Madre, a house located off McNutt in Sunland Park, NM. Four sister’s live at this house. Sister Eva Marie Salas was born in La Union, New Mexico. She attended public school and graduated from Gasden High School. Her father was absent during her childhood. Her mother owned a grocery store while they were growing up. Salas said her public school education prepared her for college. She attended Webster College, now Webster University. She discusses the process of becoming a nun. The first six months are known as postulancy. When they are …
Beyond The Sunset : Race And Ethnicity In Cullman County, Alabama,
2010
University of Mississippi
Beyond The Sunset : Race And Ethnicity In Cullman County, Alabama, Miles Laseter
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
This Southern Studies master's thesis explores the racial and ethnic environment of Cullman County, Alabama from a number of perspectives. Critical readings of archived newspapers as well as local histories provide the foundation for this study. Oral history interviews and census data also figure prominently. The research aimed mainly at illuminating the elusive history of race relations in Cullman, an overwhelmingly white county. Much of the thesis focuses on Cullman's history of racial exclusiveness. Secondary sources, primarily works by historians and sociologists, contextualize Cullman's racial past and present. The county emerges from this study as an unusual if not truly …
Interview No. 1484,
2010
University of Texas at El Paso
Interview No. 1484, Sylvia Martinez
Paso del Norte Entrepreneurship Oral History Project
Sylvia Martinez, her then husband and his brother decided to start inhome healthcare support business to assist families in El Paso. The business is called Altomar and is located in El Paso, Texas. Their business provided help for families dealing with special needs children. Altomar is a woman-owned certified as well as minority certified business. Sylvia also owns Altomar New Mexico and just started Altomar Medical Equipment Company that provides medical equipment. Sylvia is a member of the Greater El Paso Chamber of Commerce and the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Altomar is able to help the El Paso community was …
Interview No. 1483,
2010
University of Texas at El Paso
Interview No. 1483, Edith Morales
Paso del Norte Entrepreneurship Oral History Project
Edith Morales was born in El Paso, Texas but grew up in Ciudad Juárez, México as well. Edith attended The University of Texas at Dallas. She began working at a company called Daisy Tech in Plano, Texas eventually running their Latin America division in Miami, Florida and in México City, México. After twelve years of working for that company, the company went out of business. Edith started Printek Supplies Inc. in Miami. In 2005 while visiting family in El Paso, Edith and her husband decided to move their company and family back to El Paso. Edith belongs to the Greater …
Interview No. 1483,
2010
University of Texas at El Paso
Interview No. 1483, Edith Morales
Combined Interviews
Edith Morales was born in El Paso, Texas but grew up in Ciudad Juárez, México as well. Edith attended The University of Texas at Dallas. She began working at a company called Daisy Tech in Plano, Texas eventually running their Latin America division in Miami, Florida and in México City, México. After twelve years of working for that company, the company went out of business. Edith started Printek Supplies Inc. in Miami. In 2005 while visiting family in El Paso, Edith and her husband decided to move their company and family back to El Paso. Edith belongs to the Greater …
