The Inspiring Life of Texan Héctor P. García (American Heritage) - Softcover

Akers, Cecilia Garcia

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1467119016 ISBN 13: 9781467119016

Publisher: The History Press, 2016

Synopsis

As a Mexican immigrant, Dr. Hector P. Garcia endured discrimination at every stage of his life. He attended segregated schools and was the only Mexican to graduate from the University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, in 1940. Garcia's passion for helping others pushed him to advocate for equal rights. After serving in World War II, the doctor worked to help minorities achieve greater access to healthcare, voting rights and education. He started a private practice in Corpus Christi and in 1948 founded the American GI Forum. Cecilia Garcia Akers shares a daughter's perspective on her father's remarkable achievements and sacrifices as an activist and physician.

About this title

About the Author

Cecilia Garcia Akers is the middle daughter of Dr. Hector P. and Wanda F. Garcia. Cecilia is the founding member of the Dr. Hector P. Garcia Memorial Foundation and serves as its board president/chairman. She has written editorials for the Corpus Christi Caller Times and the Waco Tribune regarding the legacy of her father, Dr. Hector P. Garcia. Cecilia is married to Jimmy Akers and resides in San Antonio, Texas.

Review

Cecilia Garcia Akers, the daughter of influential Texan Hector P. Garcia, brings the accomplishments of her father to the forefront in this inspiring biography. -- http://cultura.blog.mystatesman.com/2016/06/02/14-latino-books-for-your-summer-reading-list/

"A few months ago, VHP collaborated with the Library's Office of Equal Employment Opportunity & Diversity Programs and the Librarian's Hispanic Initiative to host a book talk with Dr. Garcia's daughter, Cecilia Garcia Akers, who shared her memories and discussed her late father's legacy in her new biography, "The Inspiring Life of Texan Hector P. Garcia." A webcast of the book talk will soon be accessible via this link. At the end of event, she presented the Project with a collection of 15 original photographs of her father's military service which have been added to the archive and made accessible to researchers, students, educators and the general public, including his loved ones.

In her talk, Akers described the book as "a daughter's perspective on his personal struggles that accompanied his advocacy," versus the usual historical analysis of his life. She drove home themes of rising up from struggle, overcoming great hardships to care for others and her father's deep values that led him to his calling.

He understood the values of trust and love for his fellow man; he never forgot that he was called to serve all the people around him.

She went on to say that he "desired to achieve the American dream," and gave his life to his country and humanity. "We can all learn from his determination to succeed," she added. And I couldn't agree more."
Library of Congress-Folk life Today

"As of Tuesday, there were only two books about Garcia in a library named after him. One of those books "The Inspiring Life of Texan Hector P. Garcia" was published earlier this year by his daughter, Cecilia Garcia Akers.

"I am happy that she put that book out because there just wasn't much available prior to her book. I think there is one other," Vidales said.

Akers said she has been planning to visit her father's Memorial library for a book signing next month. She currently lives in Corpus Christi where her father spent most of his life practicing medicine and raising her and the rest of her brothers and sisters." The Monitor

"In "The Inspiring Life of Texan Hector P. Garcia" we have a truly compressive resource detailing Garcia's life on the front lines of the civil rights struggle, his work as a medical doctor and his role as a family man.

His daughter " Cecilia Garcia Akers " has written an unparalleled gem about her "papa" revealing intimate family memories.

It is a must-read for those interested in the Mexican American struggle for acceptance in the United States. This book should be required reading for young students across the country, as it recounts the story of a 20th Century hero who shook up the nation with his quest to see his people, and all Americans, treated equally and with respect. Caller-Times

About this edition

• Publisher: The History Press
• Publication date: 2016
• ISBN 10: 1467119016
• ISBN 13: 9781467119016
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 144