Lico Reyes
Encyclopedia
Frederick B. "Lico" Reyes (born April 4, 1946) is a Mexican-American actor and politician. Under the name "Lico Reyes" he has appeared in movies, commercials and a variety of political campaigns, his most recent being a bid to get elected to the United States House of Representatives
as the candidate of the Democratic Party
in Texas District 26.
, Mexico
. After arriving in the United States
he began to study for the Jesuit Roman Catholic priesthood but switched from seminary training to study agricultural engineering. He graduated from the University of Texas at Arlington
, with a degree in Mathematics and double minors in Civil Engineering and Computer Programming. Lico Reyes then continued his education by enrolling in Senior Reserved Officer's Training Corps (ROTC) from which he also became a graduate. But Vietnam was over when he graduated and his, as well as many other's, services were not needed as a Second Lieutenant. He joined the Texas State Guard; served several years and received an honorable discharge as Company Commander, Captain (O-3) from the 105th MP Battalion, First Defense Group, Company C. His next move was to enroll in a four years class in the performing arts as an actor.
He became a citizen of the United States
on December 14, 1965. He has lived in Texas
for over 40 years in a perpetual state of promotion as a celebrity.
During his campaign he advanced the idea of working with Mexico to develop Mexico's oil and gas resources with US technology and financial support. This would help bring down the cost of fuel, expand the economy in both countries and serve to decrease illegal immigration to the US. Reyes spoke of this on national TV and to US Secretary of Transportation Norman Mineta at the NASCO conference in north Texas on April 30, 2004. It is believed that Mexico has the fifth largest untapped natural resources and is also the fifth oil and gas producer in the world.
Reyes has been credited as founder of the Portable DJ industry in the USA by Dunn & Bradstreet,however several portable dj's started at USO clubs during World War Two This industry now employs tens of thousands of DJ's and stage hands and is a multi BILLION $ industry in America. Lico worked for TXDOT (Texas Department of Transportation) for nine years (Inspector, Draftsman, Civil Engineer in Training etc.
With his leadership, civil rights investigative skills and the assistance of the US Department of Justice (Community Relations Service) Texas’ TEA’s dropout rates were successfully challenged and $85,000,000.00 (million) was awarded to Texas schools in 2000. The Texas dropout rate however continues to lead the nation according to the U.S Department of Education, Predominantly hispanics.
Several investigations also lead to, historically since the Voting Rights ACT, having thousands of interpreters and hundreds of US government inspectors/agents placed at voting polls throughout Texas under US DOJ Voting Rights Section oversight during the 2004 general elections. Reyes played a small role in this This was the outcome of several complaints with the US Department of Justice, Voting Section, regarding violations of the Voting Rights Act which requires elections to have language information, education and interpreters (physically) at the polls.
Serving as an interpreter for the Dallas county courts he has also spent many years in a variety of other public entities including the FAA[Federal Aviation Administration] as a computer technician and the Texas Highways Department as a civil engineer in training. However, Reyes is best known for his colorful role as "Father Vito" in which he has hosted a variety of different community access cable television programs and live events
's Saturday Night Live
television show. His version is called "Father Vito".
While Lico Reyes was campaigning for the US Congress in Gainesville
, Texas, the local paper noted that he began his campaign stop with a prayer and ended with a song:
Reyes also appeared in the Orion
film Pancho Barnes shown on the ABC-TV
network; in the Universal
movie Problem Child and in the television show Walker, Texas Ranger. He has also appeared in many industrial films, television commercials and stage productions.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
as the candidate of the Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
in Texas District 26.
Early life
Reyers was born in Canatlan DurangoDurango
Durango officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Durango is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. The state is located in Northwest Mexico. With a population of 1,632,934, it has Mexico's second-lowest population density, after Baja...
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. After arriving in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
he began to study for the Jesuit Roman Catholic priesthood but switched from seminary training to study agricultural engineering. He graduated from the University of Texas at Arlington
University of Texas at Arlington
The University of Texas at Arlington is a public research university located in Arlington, Texas, United States. The campus is situated southwest of downtown Arlington, and is located in the Dallas–Fort Worth metropolitan area. The university was founded in 1895 and served primarily a military...
, with a degree in Mathematics and double minors in Civil Engineering and Computer Programming. Lico Reyes then continued his education by enrolling in Senior Reserved Officer's Training Corps (ROTC) from which he also became a graduate. But Vietnam was over when he graduated and his, as well as many other's, services were not needed as a Second Lieutenant. He joined the Texas State Guard; served several years and received an honorable discharge as Company Commander, Captain (O-3) from the 105th MP Battalion, First Defense Group, Company C. His next move was to enroll in a four years class in the performing arts as an actor.
He became a citizen of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
on December 14, 1965. He has lived in Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
for over 40 years in a perpetual state of promotion as a celebrity.
Political career
Reyes had success when he set his sights upon the US Congress as the Democratic Party candidate for Texas District 26. While he only managed to get 323 votes (2% of the vote) in his last bid for the office of Mayor of Arlington (the winner received 9396 votes), he did manage a more respectable return in his bid for the US Congress: The winner was a Republican with 66% of the vote (180,295 votes); Lico Reyes on the Democratic ticket received 33% of the vote (89,705 votes), while the Libertarian candidate received only 1% of the vote (4,200 votes) with a fourth independent candidate trailing far behind all of them. The incumbent winner outspent Lico Reyes ten times ($689,422) on his campaign bid to get reelected. Reyes received about 1,100 more votes than his closest fellow Democrat Hon. Martin Frost, running in another district, who spent millions on his respective campaign.During his campaign he advanced the idea of working with Mexico to develop Mexico's oil and gas resources with US technology and financial support. This would help bring down the cost of fuel, expand the economy in both countries and serve to decrease illegal immigration to the US. Reyes spoke of this on national TV and to US Secretary of Transportation Norman Mineta at the NASCO conference in north Texas on April 30, 2004. It is believed that Mexico has the fifth largest untapped natural resources and is also the fifth oil and gas producer in the world.
Reyes has been credited as founder of the Portable DJ industry in the USA by Dunn & Bradstreet,however several portable dj's started at USO clubs during World War Two This industry now employs tens of thousands of DJ's and stage hands and is a multi BILLION $ industry in America. Lico worked for TXDOT (Texas Department of Transportation) for nine years (Inspector, Draftsman, Civil Engineer in Training etc.
With his leadership, civil rights investigative skills and the assistance of the US Department of Justice (Community Relations Service) Texas’ TEA’s dropout rates were successfully challenged and $85,000,000.00 (million) was awarded to Texas schools in 2000. The Texas dropout rate however continues to lead the nation according to the U.S Department of Education, Predominantly hispanics.
Several investigations also lead to, historically since the Voting Rights ACT, having thousands of interpreters and hundreds of US government inspectors/agents placed at voting polls throughout Texas under US DOJ Voting Rights Section oversight during the 2004 general elections. Reyes played a small role in this This was the outcome of several complaints with the US Department of Justice, Voting Section, regarding violations of the Voting Rights Act which requires elections to have language information, education and interpreters (physically) at the polls.
Serving as an interpreter for the Dallas county courts he has also spent many years in a variety of other public entities including the FAA[Federal Aviation Administration] as a computer technician and the Texas Highways Department as a civil engineer in training. However, Reyes is best known for his colorful role as "Father Vito" in which he has hosted a variety of different community access cable television programs and live events
Entertainer
Reyes claims to have done priest comedy long before a character known as Father Guido Sarducci appeared on NBCNBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
's Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live is a live American late-night television sketch comedy and variety show developed by Lorne Michaels and Dick Ebersol. The show premiered on NBC on October 11, 1975, under the original title of NBC's Saturday Night.The show's sketches often parody contemporary American culture...
television show. His version is called "Father Vito".
While Lico Reyes was campaigning for the US Congress in Gainesville
Gainesville, Texas
Gainesville is a city in and the county seat of Cooke County, Texas, United States. The population was 15,538 at the 2000 census.-History:...
, Texas, the local paper noted that he began his campaign stop with a prayer and ended with a song:
- Linda Goetsch of Gainesville said she was once a third party voter, having voted for Ralph NaderRalph NaderRalph Nader is an American political activist, as well as an author, lecturer, and attorney. Areas of particular concern to Nader include consumer protection, humanitarianism, environmentalism, and democratic government....
in the 2000 election, but has voted Democratic this year because she said third party candidates tend to spoil major party elections, though they do "force centrist candidates to address issues. He (Reyes) certainly represents many of the issues that I believe in," she said. To close, Reyes said he wanted to end the meeting as an old-fashioned church revival meeting. He passed out copies of song he and his campaign treasurer Andrea Elliott co-authored titled "Bye Bye Bush" to the tune of "Bye Bye Love" made popular by the Everly Brothers.
Reyes also appeared in the Orion
Orion Pictures
Orion Pictures Corporation was an American independent production company that produced movies from 1978 until 1998. It was formed in 1978 as a joint venture between Warner Bros. and three former top-level executives of United Artists. Although it was never a large motion picture producer, Orion...
film Pancho Barnes shown on the ABC-TV
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
network; in the Universal
Universal Studios
Universal Pictures , a subsidiary of NBCUniversal, is one of the six major movie studios....
movie Problem Child and in the television show Walker, Texas Ranger. He has also appeared in many industrial films, television commercials and stage productions.