Ramiro Gonzalez
1946 - 2009
Ramiro Cortez Gonzalez was a pillar of the Saginaw-Mexican-American community as an educator, community organizer, advocate, historian and a promoter of Mexican culture.
Gonzalez was the son of J. Rufugio Gonzalez, a co-founder of La Union Civica Mexicana, Saginaw’s oldest Latino organization. He graduated from St. Joseph High (1964), received a masters degree (1977) and studied for a doctorate at University of Michigan-Ann Arbor. Gonzalez was a Vietnam veteran who served in the U. S. Marine Corp and was involved with education and community services all his life.
Among his many accomplishments were:
1971-Director of the former Mexican Historical Society of Michigan
1972-1975-Student counselor at Delta College
1979-Established the Saginaw LULAC (League of United Latino American Citizens) chapter that provided scholarships for Hispanics-over $500,000. He was a state and national LULAC leader.
1980-1985-Director of Bilingual Education at SVSU, where teachers were trained 1985-1988-Keoltzow Elementary School principal, Buena Vista Township
1988-1990-Director of Upward Bound, Saginaw Public Schools, worked with high school students.
1990-1995-Consultant for Teacher & Administration Certification, Michigan Department of Education and director Tri-City SER Jobs for Progress, Inc.
Ramiro Gonzalez was co-founder of the Benito Juarez High School Academy for at-risk students. He wrote the school’s philosophy, vision and curriculum. He was a trustee of the Buena Vista Township and given the Whitney Young Award for youth involvement at the local Martin Luther King celebration.
Additionally, he was a member of the Mott Foundation Evaluation Task Force and member of the Michigan State Board of Nursing. He served as Adjutant Secretary for the former American Legion Post 500 for three years.
A longtime and respected Hispanic leader, Gonzalez promoted Mexican culture with these examples: organized the painting of murals on the former El Pato Grocery, helped Mexican businesses licenses and permits; and networked with Hispanic organizations and elected leaders locally to promote the rights and welfare of Hispanics and more.
Gonzalez initiated documenting Saginaw Latino history. He interviewed early Mexican and Mexican-American business and community leaders, listed businesses, sports, churches, associations, etc. and planned to write a book regarding Saginaw Mexican/Latino history. His early death delayed that book for another person.
In 2015, Gonzalez was selected as a member for the Saginaw Hispanic Hall of Fame by La Union Civica Mexicana at an annual banquet at the Dow Event Center.
Inducted into the Saginaw County Hall of Fame in 2017.