Vince Luna

LULAC Youth Advisor

Vince Luna Vince was born on January 30, 1942 in Salinas, California to Manuel and Jennie Luna. He is second oldest of 15 children - 4 sisters and 10 brothers. Vince attended San Juan Elementary School, graduating from Hollister High School in 1961.

Although he loved sports, he was unable to participate in after school activities due to having to work in farm labor to help support the family. Vince was raised by grandparents who ran a labor camp in San Juan Bautista. Vince worked after school and weekends helping their grandparents at the camp.

After graduation from high school, Vince continued to work in farm labor until he was drafted into the Army in 1964. He was stationed at Fort Ord, going on to Fort Riley, Kansas with the First Infantry Division, he received his orders to serve in Viet-Nam in 1965, returning safely home on his 24th birthday.

He married Mickie Solorio on June 24th, 1967 in a cultural ceremony at Mission San Juan Bautista. They became parents of two sons, Vincent David and Theodore Paul Luna. Vince and Mickie became very involved in the boys= school activities. Vince became the soccer and little league coach. He became involved with little Vincent=s Cub Scouts Den #455 as their Den Leader. He volunteered to do yard work and fix toys for the boy=s nursery school. As the boys became involved in their school bands, Vince became the Band Dad, assisting with band reviews, driving the band truck, marching their parades and always helping students with any help they needed. When the boys joined sports in high school, he never missed their softball games and track meets. Upon the boys graduation, Vince became the dad for other students.

In 1989, San Benito LULAC formed the youth council, and immediately, Vince became the youth advisor. Since it=s existence, he has nurtured, guided, comforted, supported countless youth of the organization locally and out of the area. He is know to all as ADad@. The youth have honored him with awards, always remembering his birthday with cards, birthday cakes, and gift certificates. He turns around and spends the certificates on items for them. He checks the local newspapers for their names on the honor roll, he awards them with ribbons, certificates and pins. He will drop what he is doing to listen to any student with a problem. He will take time off his personal life to transport them to a college or university when the parents can=t take them. He is always ready to rent vans to take the youth to state leadership conferences, he keeps an eye on them at all times. At the end of their school year, he gives them special recognitions and is emotional upon their departure. He is truly a Dad to so many youth of this community, he is very caring and personally wants the students to succeed.

Vince knows the value of a good education, he never had the opportunity to go to college or university, however he has encouraged and assisted numerous students to further their education. He is an inspiration to many students and young people in San Benito County. His own children are successful individuals whom he has motivated and inspired to do good.

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Vince Luna