We here at the Richardson-Sloane Special Collections Center were saddened by the news that Ernest Rodriguez, civil rights activist and founding member of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) in the Quad Cities, had passed away last Saturday, April 5th at the age of 97.
We are fortunate that he has left us with us two accounts of his remarkable life, a written memoir and an oral history recording as part of the “In Your Own Words, 2099-2020” project. He has also shared his story with the University of Iowa’s Migration is Beautiful digital exhibition.
These images of Rodriguez over the years are from the many articles in the Davenport newspapers documenting his experiences and accomplishments.
Davenport Democrat and Leader, 26 June 1951, page 24.
First meeting of LULAC Council 10, 1959, contributed photo to story on the history of the organization in the Quad-City Times, 06 July 2004, page 16. Rodriguez is 4th from the left in the first row.
“Interviewers Start Study on Poverty,” Times-Democrat, 21 July 1967, page 3.
“Minority Coalition Names Coordinator,” Times-Democrat, 18 May 1970 page 15.
Named coordinator of the Area Board for Migrants established in 1970 by the Catholic Dioceses of Davenport, Peoria, and Rockford, Times-Democrat, 27 February 1971, page 12.
Spanish-Speaking Program Coordinator for the U.S. Army Armament Command at Rock Island Arsenal, “Helping Migrants to Find Stability,” Quad-City Times, 03 August 1975, page 13.
Discussing his family’s experiences of racism in Bettendorf and Davenport, Quad-City Times, 19 Nov 1995, page 6M, “Tiempos Latinos” section in Spanish.
