Letter from President Johnson to Otila Garcia, 5/27/66

EXECUTIVE ED3 B LA5 May 27, 1966 ST43 Flarrard UNiversity Dear Mrs. Garcia: I am grateful to you for writing me about Raul GARCIA and his scholarship. I can understand your great pride, and I know that you provided much of the inspiration for Raul's success. With best wishes to you and your family, Sincerely, LYNDON B. JOHNSON Also Mrs. Otila Garcia Post Office Box 834 Vernales, California LBJ:RLW:mg 3 And RECEIVED 9961 STATE THE 5/26 DICK- Perhaps the President would find this letter particularly appealing. It concerns a Mexican migrant worker family from Texas -- the son has won a scholarship to Harvard. A clear copy is attached if you would want to send over. Marge Wicklein TJUHS Senior Wins Harvard Scholarship Raul Garcia, a Tracy was recently named High senior, has been of America award w awarded a $3,000 scholar- in science. ship for his freshman year at Harvard University in At Harvard, Raul Cambridge, Mass. be one of 1,200 ent The 17-year-old son of freshmen, according Mr. and Mrs. Manuel Gar- Mrs. Maxine Fair cia of Vernalis plans to scholarship counselo major in architecture at Tracy High. Harvard College, the Over 6,000 high S undergraduate unit of the seniors applied for a university. tance to Harvard ai Raul was born in Har- these, 3,500 applied lingen, Tex., and attended some form of financia high school in Madera for Raul is one of 400 three years before trans- ceiving financial aid i ferring here at the begin- form of a scholar ning of the 1965 term last which is renewable fall. RAUL GARCIA yearly basis, Mrs. I An honor roll student, he Vernalis resident child explained. Central California CRACKING BOOKS-Raul Garcia is often seen "hitting the books" which is fun and not work for him. He has been offered scholarships at Harvard and the University of California. Two Scholarships Migrant Farm Workers' Son PROUD PARENTS-Raul Garcia's parents stand proudly with their son who earned a 3.55 grade average. to Attend Harvard University By DON STONE older brother Ruben, 20, was Of the Record Staff TRACY, May 2 - Only in held back early in his school- merica could the son of a ing because he had to learn amily of hard-working farm English. Now, Raul and Ruben migrants become a Harvard are both seniors at Tracy High. Man. Mrs. Garcia, impressed by The prospect of having a son the importance of learning who has been awarded a re- English, has stressed this so newable $3,000-a-year scholar- much in recent years that the ship at Harvard University is younger children in the family almost overwhelming to Mr. speak more English than they and Mrs. Manuel Garcia of do Spanish. Vernalis. CHANGED SCHOOLS Tracy Joint Union High Raul and the others changed School, too, is proud to have a schools often-as frequently as student of Raul Garcia's cali- their parents moved from ber-one who can start school labor camp to labor camp, two weeks late SO he can finish town-to-town and crop-to-crop. his work in the fields, take the Born in Harlingen, Tex., he toughest subjects, and come attended elementary and jun- out with A's and B's. ior high schools in Texas, More where he also CRACKING BOOKS-Raul Garcia is often seen "hitting the books" which is fun and not work for him. He has been offered scholarships at Harvard and the University of California. Two Scholarships Migrant Farm Workers' Son 's parents stand proudly grade average. to Attend Harvard University By DON STONE older brother Ruben 20, was Of the Record Staff held back early in his school- TRACY, May 2 Only in ing because he had to learn merica could the son of a English. Now, Raul and Ruben amily of hard-working farm are both seniors at Tracy High. migrants become a Harvard Mrs. Garcia, impressed by Man. the importance of learning The prospect of having a son English, has stressed this so who has been awarded a re- much in recent years that the newable $3,000-a-year scholar- younger children in the family ship at Harvard University is speak more English than they almost overwhelming to Mr. do Spanish. and Mrs. Manuel Garcia of CHANGED SCHOOLS Vernalis. Raul and the others changed Tracy Joint Union High schools often-as frequently as School, too, is proud to have a their parents moved from student of Raul Garcia's cali- labor camp to labor camp, ber-one who can start school town-to-town and crop-to-crop. two weeks late so he can finish Born in Harlingen, Tex., he his work in the fields, take the attended elementary and jun- toughest subjects, and come ior high schools in Texas, out with A's and B's. where he also studied his More important in the case freshman year in high school. of Raul Garcia, though, is the He attended school in Madera strong incentive school offi- in the 10th and 11th grades, cials feel must be present for and arrived at Tracy High this such academic achievement in a family living in labor camps, year The father and mother give where books are a luxury and Raul much freedom in making time to read and study is at a his own decisions. In fact, they premium. ask his advice often, recog- PARENTS HAPPY nizing his sound judgment. Raul's parents were bursting Unlike many boys born to with pride when they learned poverty and frequent moving, of their boy's achievement. Raul has not taken to de- Mrs. Garcia was even more ex- linquency or anti-social be- cited when she drew a letter havior. from her purse that told Raul "Whatever we tell him to do, he also has an opportunity to he will do it," his mother said. attend the University of Cali- fornia on a scholarship, if he Raul praises his teachers for should decline the Harvard their help, too. His big interest a year ago was "modern offer. math," as taught in Madera. Raul thinks he will accept This year he is especially in- the big chance at Harvard, trigued with English, and he though. He wants to study credits Mrs. Dorothy Slaton architecture, which he figures with inspiring the interest. might take nine years. In his spare time, Raul likes How did the farm laborer's boy develop the academic to play basketball with friends. And summertimes, of course, horsepower to take him to a there is always farm work. college attended by intellec- tuals and millionaires? Picking tomatoes last year, "He's not like the others," Raul averaged about $15 a day, said Mrs. Garcia, referring to reaching $26 one day. This summer he hopes to get a job Raul's nine brothers and sis- with the post office. ters. ALWAYS READING "He was always reading. We had to take the books away from him or had to ramily IS speak more English than they almost overwhelming to Mr. do Spanish. and Mrs. Manuel Garcia of CHANGED SCHOOLS Vernalis. Raul and the others changed Tracy Joint Union High schools often-as frequently as School, too, is proud to have a their parents moved from student of Raul Garcia's cali- labor camp to labor camp. ber-one who can start school town-to-town and crop-to-crop. two weeks late so he can finish Born in Harlingen, Tex., he his work in the fields, take the attended elementary and jun- toughest subjects, and come ior high schools in Texas, out with A's and B's. where he also studied his More important in the case freshman year in high school. of Raul Garcia, though, is the He attended school in Madera strong incentive school offi- in the 10th and 11th grades, cials feel must be present for and arrived at Tracy High this such academic achievement in a family living in labor camps, year The father and mother give where books are a luxury and Raul much freedom in making time to read and study is at a his own decisions. In fact, they premium. ask his advice often, recog- PARENTS HAPPY Raul's parents were bursting nizing his sound judgment. Unlike many boys born to with pride when they learned of their boy's achievement. poverty and frequent moving, Raul has not taken to de- Mrs. Garcia was even more ex- linquency or anti-social be- cited when she drew a letter havior. from her purse that told Raul "Whatever we tell him to do, he also has an opportunity to he will do it," his mother said. attend the University of Cali- fornia on a scholarship, if he Raul praises his teachers for should decline the Harvard their help, too. His big interest a year ago was "modern offer. Raul thinks he will accept math," as taught in Madera. This year he is especially in- the big chance at Harvard, though. He wants to study trigued with English, and he credits Mrs. Dorothy Slaton architecture, which he figures with inspiring the interest. might take nine years. How did the farm laborer's In his spare time, Raul likes boy develop the academic to play basketball with friends. And summertimes, of course, horsepower to take him to a college attended by intellec- there is always farm work. tuals and millionaires? Picking tomatoes last year, "He's not like the others," Raul averaged about $15 a day, said Mrs. Garcia, referring to reaching $26 one day. This Raul's nine brothers and sis- summer he hopes to get a job ters. with the post office. ALWAYS READING "He was always reading. We had to take the books away from him or had to take his meals to him while he was reading. Often Raul would read late into the night-long after his brothers and sisters had gone to bed. "My father bought 'Classics Illustrated' at the store for me when I was little. That's where I learned all my ideas of right and wrong-the good guy al- ways wins and the bad guy loses, you know." said Raul. His mother recalls that Raul learned English earlier than the other children and could speak it when he started to school. "He could read before he went to school. He used to cry to go to school when he was only five-but we would have had to pay and we couldn't," Mrs. Garcia said. Raul always talked more English than Spanish - the language spoken mostly by the family in its early days. His COPY May 17, 66 Vernalis, Calif. Dear Mr. President, Here I am sending you this picture of Raul. He is my son. We are verey proud of him for we are a big family of ten children 5 boys and 5 Girls. Daddy and me we are all very prout of him. 8 children in school 2 at home. This might not mean much to you. But for us it means alot. In our way of living it isn't easy. This year we have two to Graduate from High School. Ruben my oldest son and Raul next to him. We are from Texas. All our children went to school in Houston Texas. Until 3 years ago we come to Colifornia Where we had some halp from the children in summer in the crops and keep them in school. This there last year in High school. We had to stay in a laber camp for we don't have a House to live in. And we could not fine a House for rent. With a big family it is not easy. We don't have much place for them to study. Thay don't have mony other things that others have. And Raul come up with a schoolerchip 3000 dollers a year where only millionaires go. seems like a dream to us and still its true. He is going to Harvard University in Sep. with God's halp. Mr. President we as parents want to thank you for the big oportunidodes that we all have in America. We are Mexicans from Texas. And that no matter who we are. rich or poor. we all have the same right if we work for it. It's not what the country will do for us. But what we can do for our Country. The words of our beloved president come to me. at this moment. It is verey true. My son will be leaving to collage in Sep. which will be the hardest thing. for his first time to leave home. and for all of us. But will be together. will get used to it for his own good. I wich we could live there. where we could see him be together. (MORE) (CONTINUED) I don't have words to thank you. But I wich this will halp the nation. That in God we all the same. Resive the love of our children my husband an me. One thing more I'll pray for. is that when my boy gets to Harvard his teachers and friends make him feel at home for it is not easy for him feeling diffrent from the others. But in his heart he is rich. Thank you. S/ Mrs. Otila Garcia P.S. I'll send you Raul & Rubens pictures soon. P. 0. Box 834 Vernales, Calif. COPY IF AND WHEN RECEIVED ITEM WILL BE FORWARDED COPY OF THIS TO LETTER. YOUR OFFICE WITH A 4217,66 MAIL ROOM humaly East Dear Mr. President Here 2 am sending you this picture of Roul. He is my son we are very proud of him for we are a big Family of ten Children 5 boys and 5 girls Doddy and me we are all verey Prout of him. 8 children in school 2 at home. This might not mean much to you But for us it means alot. in our way of living it isn't lary. This year we have two to Graduate from High school Ruben my coldest son and Doul next to him. we are from Jeyos. all our Children went to school in Houston sexon Until 3 years ago we Come to Colifornia where we had some help from the children in summer in the Crops. and peep thom in school This there lost year in High school. we had to stoy in a lober Comp. for we don't have a House to live in. and we could not time a Home for rent. with a big Family it in not lary we don't have much place for them to study they don't have many other things. that other have and Roul Come up with a schoolerchip 3000 dollars a year where only millioraires go. seems life a dream to us and still its true he is going to Harnard University in sep. with Dodn help. Mr. president we as Parents want to thanpyon for the big opartunidades that 2 we all have in america. we are mexicon from Zexos. andthot no matter who we are. rich or Roar. we all have the some right it me work for it. 2ts not what the Country will do for us. But what we Can do for our Country. the words of our beloved President Come to the at this moment. at in very true my son will he having to Collage in sep. which will be the hardest thing for his first time to leave home. and for all at us. But will he together. will get used to it An his own good I wich we could line there. where we could we him be together 2 don't have words to thoupgon But a wich this will help the nation. that in Got we all the same Resive the love of our Children my hosband an me. one thing more I'll pray for, is that when my boy gets to Harvard his teacher and friends moke him feel at home for it in not losy for him feeling different from the others. But in his heart he is rich. Thoupyou P.S. I'll rend you Realit Robert Pictures som. mas. Otila Faria P.O Bot 834 number Cabit