September 30, 2022
Kobre & Kim continues to celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month by honoring the late Mario Guerra Obledo for his outstanding contributions to the advancement of Hispanic rights in America.
Obledo was born in San Antonio, Texas and was a son of Mexican immigrants. Obledo attained a pharmacy degree from the University of Texas at Austin and a law degree from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio.
Obledo was a co-founder of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund which quickly gained a reputation for being the “law firm for the Latino community.” Obledo went on to lead a distinguished career of public service, including co-founding the Hispanic National Bar Association and serving as the Health and Welfare Secretary of California, making him the highest ranking Mexican American official in the state at the time.
President Bill Clinton awarded Obledo with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1998, describing Obledo’s career as having “created a powerful chorus for justice and equality.” Obledo passed away on August 18, 2010, in Sacramento, California.