Bernard "Bernie" Valdez was born in Cleveland, N.M. in 1912. He moved with his family to Colo. in 1926 to work on the Moffat Tunnel and later in the sugar beet fields in northern Colo. Valdez joined the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in 1933 during the depression. The corps educational programs allowed him to return to High School in Ft. Collins, Colo. where he received his diploma in 1936 at the age of 24. Valdez eventually worked as a representative for the Larimer Farm County Labor Relations Board (1940s). He also worked for Denver Parks and Recreation Dept. (1948-1952), and as a Project manager for Denver Housing Authority (1950s). In 1963, Valdez was appointed Manager of Denver's Social Services Department under Mayor Tom Currigan. He served as president of the Denver School Board (1972-1978) and headed the Colorado Coalition for Dropout Prevention (1980s). Valdez was a founding member of LARASA (Latin America Research and Service Agency) and the Latin American Education Foundation. Well known as an advocate for Hispanic rights, he died in Denver, Colo. in November 1997.
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