Lucy G. Acosta

Lucy G. Acosta (October 4, 1926 – March 8, 2008)[1] was a Mexican-American activist who served under various mayors of El Paso, Texas in her efforts to better the lot of Mexican-Americans and all El Pasoans. She was elected to the Texas Women's Hall of Fame in 1987.[2] The Lucy G. Acosta Humanitarian Awards were named in her honor, and have been presented every year since 1993.[2]

Early years and education

Lucy Acosta was three years old when her father was killed. She was six years old when her family moved from Miami, Arizona to El Paso, Texas.[3]

She attended Bowie High School and graduated in the top ten of her class. She then attended International Business College and graduated in 1945.[3]

Marriage

She married Alejandro Acosta in 1948 and had two children, Alex and Danny.[3]

League of United Latin American Citizens

Acosta joined the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) in 1957 and helped organize LULAC's Ladies Council #335, which was officially chartered in 1958.[3]

Election of El Paso's First Mexican-American Mayor

Acosta and Ladies Council #335 was instrumental in garnering campaign funds, as well as campaigning for Raymond Telles, the first Mexican-American mayor of El Paso.

This successful political activity caused Acosta to become much more involved in politics. She was appointed to many committees during Telles tenure, and when future mayors came on the scene she served on committees for them as well.

Texas Bar Association

Acosta was appointed to the 17th District Bar Association of Law Examiners, becoming the first woman and layperson in the history of the Texas Bar Association to receive that appointment.

Acosta was the co-founder and developer of Project Amistad, a flagship social service program that assisted the elderly and disabled in the El Paso community.[2] She also served as its executive director of Project Amistad.

She was also the first woman to be elected to the El Paso Community College Board of Trustees; and the first woman in the history of El Paso to be appointed civil service commissioner. In 1982 she was awarded the United Way's annual volunteer service award, becoming the first El Paso resident to receive such an award.

Honors and legacy

In 1963 and 1973 she was selected Outstanding LULAC National Woman of the Year and Outstanding LULAC Woman for the State of Texas.

The Lucy G. Acosta Humanitarian Awards were named in her honor in 1993. The awards have been presented ever since.[4] She was inducted into the Texas Women's Hall of Fame in 1987.[2] She is also a member of the El Paso Women Hall of Fame.[5]

References

  1. ↑ "Lucy G Acosta". Death-record.com. Retrieved 2013-05-15.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Texas Women's Hall of Fame: Acosta, Lucy G.". Texas Woman's University. Retrieved 2013-05-15.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Latinas in the United States. Indiana University Press. 2006. ISBN 978-0-253-11169-2.
  4. ↑ "Lucy G. Acosta Humanitarian Awards". El Paso Times. 2011-05-14. Retrieved 2013-05-15.
  5. ↑ "El Paso Hall of Fame Members". El Paso Commission for Women. September 9, 2008. Archived from the original on 9 February 2015. Retrieved 2013-05-15.

External links

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