Richard Chavez
Encyclopedia
Richard Estrada Chavez was an American
labor leader, organizer and activist. Chavez was the younger brother of labor leader, César Chávez
, who co-founded the National Farm Workers Association, now known as the United Farm Workers
(UFW). Richard Chavez is credited with building the United Farm Workers
into a major California
agricultural and political organization.
Chavez was born to a migrant family on November 12, 1929, near Yuma, Arizona
, on a family farm
. He worked as a child migrant worker
during the Great Depression
. He transitioned from farm work to carpentry and moved to San Jose, California
. 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. Richard Chavez was a co-founder of the National Farm Workers Association, which would later become known as the United Farm Workers
(UFW).
Richard Chavez spearheaded the construction of the United Farm Workers' union hall
, which became its headquarters, in Delano, California
. Paul Chavez, the president of the Cesar Chavez Foundation and son of Cesar Chavez, told the Los Angeles Times
that "was there before there was a union
." In 1962, Richard Chavez designed the now iconic logo
of the United Farm Workers, which features a black Aztec
eagle
. (Cesar Chavez chose the red and black colors of the union.) Decades later, U.S. President Barack Obama
called the eagle "a symbol of hope that has helped carry the struggle for the rights of farm workers forward for almost five decades."
In 1966, Chavez became the founding director of the National Farm Workers Service Center, which opened up social services to farm workers. Chavez also put his own home up for collateral
to establish the UFW's credit union. Chavez organized the Delano grape strike
and boycott, which spanned five years during the late 1960s. He later helped organize other strike
s in Detroit and New York
.
Richard Chavez served as the third Vice President
of the United Farm Workers from 1972 until his retirement in 1984. Chavez retired from the United Farm Workers union in 1983, but continued to serve on the board of directors
of the Cesar Chavez Foundation and the Dolores Huerta Foundation. Chavez worked as a Los Angeles-based custom home builder during the 1990s after he received a California contractor
's license.
Chavez was in a long-term romantic relationship with labor leader, Dolores Huerta
. Chavez and Huerta never married, but had four children during their relationship.
Richard Chavez died from complications of surgery at a hospital in Bakersfield, California
, on July 27, 2011, at the age of 81. He was survived by ten children, six from his first marriage and four from his relationship with Dolores Huerta. Chavez was also survived by two sisters, Rita Chavez Medina and Vicki Chavez Lastra, and one surviving brother, Librado Chavez.
President Barack Obama issued a statement calling Chavez "symbol of hope." Chavez had visited Obama at the White House
in 2010 to mark Cesar Chavez Day.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
labor leader, organizer and activist. Chavez was the younger brother of labor leader, César Chávez
César Chávez
César Estrada Chávez was an American farm worker, labor leader, and civil rights activist who, with Dolores Huerta, co-founded the National Farm Workers Association, which later became the United Farm Workers ....
, who co-founded the National Farm Workers Association, now known as the United Farm Workers
United Farm Workers
The United Farm Workers of America is a labor union created from the merging of two groups, the Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee led by Filipino organizer Larry Itliong, and the National Farm Workers Association led by César Chávez...
(UFW). Richard Chavez is credited with building the United Farm Workers
United Farm Workers
The United Farm Workers of America is a labor union created from the merging of two groups, the Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee led by Filipino organizer Larry Itliong, and the National Farm Workers Association led by César Chávez...
into a major California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
agricultural and political organization.
Chavez was born to a migrant family on November 12, 1929, near Yuma, Arizona
Yuma, Arizona
Yuma is a city in and the county seat of Yuma County, Arizona, United States. It is located in the southwestern corner of the state, and the population of the city was 77,515 at the 2000 census, with a 2008 Census Bureau estimated population of 90,041....
, on a family farm
Family farm
A family farm is a farm owned and operated by a family, and often passed down from generation to generation. It is the basic unit of the mostly agricultural economy of much of human history and continues to be so in developing nations...
. He worked as a child migrant worker
Migrant worker
The term migrant worker has different official meanings and connotations in different parts of the world. The United Nations' definition is broad, including any people working outside of their home country...
during the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
. He transitioned from farm work to carpentry and moved to San Jose, California
San Jose, California
San Jose is the third-largest city in California, the tenth-largest in the U.S., and the county seat of Santa Clara County which is located at the southern end of San Francisco Bay...
. 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. Richard Chavez was a co-founder of the National Farm Workers Association, which would later become known as the United Farm Workers
United Farm Workers
The United Farm Workers of America is a labor union created from the merging of two groups, the Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee led by Filipino organizer Larry Itliong, and the National Farm Workers Association led by César Chávez...
(UFW).
Richard Chavez spearheaded the construction of the United Farm Workers' union hall
Union Hall
Union Hall may refer to:in Australia* Union Hall , a hall and theatre in Adelaide, South Australia.in Ireland* Union Hall, County Cork a village in Irelandin the United States* Union Hall , listed on the NRHP in Maine...
, which became its headquarters, in Delano, California
Delano, California
Delano's climate is characteristic of the San Joaquin Valley. The weather is hot and dry during the summer and cool and damp in winter. Frequent ground fog known regionally as "tule fog" can obscure vision. Record temperatures range between 115°F and 14°F...
. Paul Chavez, the president of the Cesar Chavez Foundation and son of Cesar Chavez, told the Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
that "was there before there was a union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
." In 1962, Richard Chavez designed the now iconic logo
Logo
A logo is a graphic mark or emblem commonly used by commercial enterprises, organizations and even individuals to aid and promote instant public recognition...
of the United Farm Workers, which features a black Aztec
Aztec
The Aztec people were certain ethnic groups of central Mexico, particularly those groups who spoke the Nahuatl language and who dominated large parts of Mesoamerica in the 14th, 15th and 16th centuries, a period referred to as the late post-classic period in Mesoamerican chronology.Aztec is the...
eagle
Eagle
Eagles are members of the bird family Accipitridae, and belong to several genera which are not necessarily closely related to each other. Most of the more than 60 species occur in Eurasia and Africa. Outside this area, just two species can be found in the United States and Canada, nine more in...
. (Cesar Chavez chose the red and black colors of the union.) Decades later, U.S. President Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
called the eagle "a symbol of hope that has helped carry the struggle for the rights of farm workers forward for almost five decades."
In 1966, Chavez became the founding director of the National Farm Workers Service Center, which opened up social services to farm workers. Chavez also put his own home up for collateral
Collateral (finance)
In lending agreements, collateral is a borrower's pledge of specific property to a lender, to secure repayment of a loan.The collateral serves as protection for a lender against a borrower's default - that is, any borrower failing to pay the principal and interest under the terms of a loan obligation...
to establish the UFW's credit union. Chavez organized the Delano grape strike
Delano grape strike
The strike began when the Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee, mostly Filipino farm workers in Delano, California, led by Philip Vera Cruz, Larry Itliong, Benjamin Gines and Pete Velasco, walked off the farms of area table-grape growers, demanding wages equal to the federal minimum wage...
and boycott, which spanned five years during the late 1960s. He later helped organize other strike
Strike action
Strike action, also called labour strike, on strike, greve , or simply strike, is a work stoppage caused by the mass refusal of employees to work. A strike usually takes place in response to employee grievances. Strikes became important during the industrial revolution, when mass labour became...
s in Detroit and New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
.
Richard Chavez served as the third Vice President
Vice president
A vice president is an officer in government or business who is below a president in rank. The name comes from the Latin vice meaning 'in place of'. In some countries, the vice president is called the deputy president...
of the United Farm Workers from 1972 until his retirement in 1984. Chavez retired from the United Farm Workers union in 1983, but continued to serve on the board of directors
Board of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
of the Cesar Chavez Foundation and the Dolores Huerta Foundation. Chavez worked as a Los Angeles-based custom home builder during the 1990s after he received a California contractor
Contractor
Contractor may refer to:* General contractor, organization or individual that contracts with another organization or individual for the construction of a building, road or other facility...
's license.
Chavez was in a long-term romantic relationship with labor leader, Dolores Huerta
Dolores Huerta
Dolores C. Huerta is the co-founder and First Vice President Emeritus of the United Farm Workers of America, AFL-CIO , and a member of the Democratic Socialists of America.-Early life:...
. Chavez and Huerta never married, but had four children during their relationship.
Richard Chavez died from complications of surgery at a hospital in Bakersfield, California
Bakersfield, California
Bakersfield is a city near the southern end of the San Joaquin Valley in Kern County, California. It is roughly equidistant between Fresno and Los Angeles, to the north and south respectively....
, on July 27, 2011, at the age of 81. He was survived by ten children, six from his first marriage and four from his relationship with Dolores Huerta. Chavez was also survived by two sisters, Rita Chavez Medina and Vicki Chavez Lastra, and one surviving brother, Librado Chavez.
President Barack Obama issued a statement calling Chavez "symbol of hope." Chavez had visited Obama at the White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
in 2010 to mark Cesar Chavez Day.