UFW Flag
Bakersfield, CA – Richard Chavez, advocate for farm workers rights died on Wednesday, July 27, 2011. The United Farm Worker Association (UFW) announced that his death resulted from the complications of a surgery in a hospital in Bakersfield, California. Chavez, born November 12, 1929 in Yuma, Arizona lived 81 years.
Richard Chavez helped build the UFW Along with Cesar Chavez, and Dolores Huerta in 1962. Helping to build the UFW union as he oversaw construction of major structures on the farm workers “Forty Acres” complex outside Delano, CA. That same year Chavez also designed what became the symbol of the Chicano Rights Movement; the UFW flag.
“He was a quiet hero and his legacy will be his passion for justice. Our nation is fortunate that his legacy will live on through the lives he touched. My thoughts and prayers are of course with my dear friend and mentor, Dolores Huerta, as well as the entire Chavez family. They too are part of the marvelous legacy of this special angel,” stated U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis
During his long career as an activist Chavez helped organizing the farm workers’ successful boycotts of California. He retired from the union in the 1980`s and continue helping as an active board member of both the Cesar Chavez Foundation and Dolores Huerta Foundation.
Related articles
- Farm worker advocate Richard Chavez dies in California at 81 (news.blogs.cnn.com)
- Farmworker union leader Richard Chavez dies (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
- Farmworker union leader Richard Chavez dies (sfgate.com)
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