NM LULAC mourns the loss of one of its prominent leaders, civil rights and veteran advocates

NM LULAC mourns the loss of one of its prominent leaders, civil rights and veteran advocates

Albuquerque, NM- the League of United Latin American Citizens of New Mexico (NM LULAC) is saddened by the loss of Mr. Lee J. Leyba on Wednesday, July 18, 2012. Mr. Leyba was the NM LULAC State Director (1979-81) and National LULAC Vice President of the Southwest from (1981-82).

Mr. Leyba was a veteran with the United States Coast Guard. He was a retired federal investigator with U.S. Labor Department. Mr. Leyba devoted his life advocating for veteran’s rights and promoting social and economic parity for Hispanics at all level within our American society. He was also a Veteran Services Representative with the NM Department of Veterans Services. “Mr. Leyba was a tremendous leaders and beloved by many. His shoes in LULAC are hard to fill. He was certainly one of the best, if not the best State Director in NM LULAC History”, stated, Paul “Pablo” A. Martinez, Immediate Past State Director. Martinez further alluded, “He was one of my mentors and dedicated his life to help improve the lives of so many New Mexicans. He was tenacious and unequivocal in his passion to help our veterans…it is certainly a sad day for New Mexico LULAC and particularly the Hispanic community to loose a great friend and dynamic leader like Mr. Lee J. Leyba”.

*LULAC is this nation’s oldest and largest Latino organization. Since 1929, LULAC has served as a vanguard in fight for civil rights and social economic party for Latinos at all levels and facets in our American society. *