Richard Estrada Chavez(November 12, 1929 – July 27, 2011) was an Americanlabor leader,organizer andactivist.Chavez was the younger brother of labor leaderCésar Chávez,who co-founded theNational Farm Workers Association,now known as theUnited Farm Workers(UFW). Richard Chavez is credited with building the UFW into a majorCaliforniaagricultural and political organization.[1][2]
Chavez was born to a migrant family on November 12, 1929, nearYuma, Arizona,on afamily farm.[1][2]He worked as a childmigrant workerduring theGreat Depression.[1]He transitioned from farm work to carpentry and moved toSan Jose, California.[1]In the early 1960s, Chavez would leave his job as a carpenter in order to assist Cesar Chavez in his effort to organize California farm workers.[1]Richard Chavez was a co-founder of theNational Farm Workers Associationwith his brotherCesar Chavezand organizing leaderDolores Huerta,which would later become known as theUnited Farm Workers(UFW).[2]
Richard Chavez spearheaded the construction of the United Farm Workers'union hall,which became its headquarters, inDelano, California.[1]Paul Chavez, the president of the Cesar Chavez Foundation and son of Cesar Chavez, told theLos Angeles Timesthat "was there before there was aunion."[1]In 1962, Richard Chavez designed the now iconiclogoof the United Farm Workers, which features a blackAzteceagle.[1][2](Cesar Chavez chose the red and black colors of the union.[2]) Decades later,U.S. PresidentBarack Obamacalled the eagle "a symbol of hope that has helped carry the struggle for the rights of farm workers forward for almost five decades."[3]
In 1966, Chavez became the founding director of the National Farm Workers Service Center, which opened up social services to farm workers.[2]Chavez used his home ascollateralto establish the UFW's credit union.[1]Chavez helped organize theDelano grape strikeandboycottwhich was led byDolores Huerta,which spanned five years during the late 1960s.[1]He later helped organize otherstrikesinDetroitandNew York City.
Richard Chavez served as the thirdVice Presidentof the United Farm Workers from 1972 until his retirement in 1984.[2]Chavez retired from the United Farm Workers union in 1983, but continued to serve on theboard of directorsof the Cesar Chavez Foundation and the Dolores Huerta Foundation.[1]Chavez worked as a Los Angeles–based custom home builder during the 1990s after he received a Californiacontractor's license.[1]
For many years, Chavez was partners with fellow labor leaderDolores Huerta.[1]They never married, but four children were born of the relationship.[1]
Richard Chavez died from complications of surgery at a hospital inBakersfield, California,on July 27, 2011, at the age of 81.[1][2]
President Barack Obama issued a statement calling Chavez a "symbol of hope."[4]Chavez had visited Obama at theWhite Housein 2010 to markCesar Chavez Day.[4]
References
edit- ^abcdefghijklmnoQuinones, Sam (2011-07-28)."Richard Chavez dies at 81; brother of Cesar Chavez (He helped Cesar Chavez build the United Farm Workers into a political and agricultural force. He organized the California grape boycott in the late 1960s.)".Los Angeles Times.Retrieved2011-07-30.
- ^abcdefghNevarez, Griselda (2011-07-28)."United Farm Workers co-founder Richard Chavez dies".Tucson Sentinel.Retrieved2011-07-30.
- ^Pabst, Georgia (2011-07-28)."Richard Chavez mourned".Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.Retrieved2011-07-30.
- ^abJackson, David (2011-07-28)."Obama praises Chavez as 'symbol of hope'".USA Today.Retrieved2011-07-30.