No Categories available for this record. War & Locale: World War
II -- European Theater Date of Birth: By Claudia Farias Nicanor
Aguilar is something of a renaissance man, both as a musician
and, at an age when most people would be slowing down, an
athlete. But Aguilar’s proudest accomplishment involves his
efforts to end discrimination in his West Texas hometown after
returning from the war. Born Jan. 10, 1917, in Grand Falls in
rural Texas, he spent most of his time helping his father, a
tenant cotton farmer. The family of three brothers and two
sisters helped pick cotton on 100 acres of land. In 1930, a
schoolhouse was finally built for Mexican American children next
to a group of mesquite trees, but he left after one year to work
with his father. No schools existed for Mexican American
children after elementary; entry into the "Anglo" schools was
banned. Aguilar learned most of his English from the Anglo
children with whom he played in town. One of his younger
sisters, Maria, was prevented from attending