Romans are Grand Marshals of Parade
Rudy and Maria Roman have been named Cinco de Mayo Grand Marshals for their long-time involvement in the community.
“In recognition of their commitment, leadership and lifetime dedication to improving the lives of others in our community,” Comision Honorifica Mexicana-americana stated in making the announcement.
The grand marshals will be recognized at the Cinco de Mayo Pageant at 6 p.m. Wednesday at CHMA Community Center, at the parade at 10 a.m. on Saturday and at the Cinco de Mayo Festival from 12 to 7 p.m. on Sunday at Veterans Park.
“Rudy and I are very honored to be chosen in this most prestigious position,” Maria said.
Rudy and Maria met at Porterville College and have been married since 1982.
Maria is the daughter of Rogelio and Maria Luisa Solorio, who migrated from Mexico and settled in Porterville as farmworkers. She is the fourth child of 11 children and attended Porterville schools, including Monache High School, Porterville College and California State University, Bakersfield, where she earned a master’s in Educational Counseling.
She has a lengthy history of community and student involvement, including Monache High School and Porterville College MECHA (Movimineto Studiantial Chicano de Aztlan), PC Faculty MECHA adviser, CHMA Cinco de Mayo Pageant assistant and Cinco de Mayo Fiestas assistant. She is the former president of the American Association of University Women Porterville branch and served as commissioner for the City of Porterville Parks and Leisure.
Maria has been employed at PC since 1979, first as a student worker, then as Classified staff and since 2000 as Faculty Counselor. She has served on the Faculty Academic Senate, Student Services division chair, EOPS director and EOPS Region V State Representative. Additionally she is currently the counselor for the veterans and native American students and has served for the past six years as co-chair of the Porterville College Job Fair.
Rudy is the son of Asencion and Socorro Roman, who migrated from Texas and settled in Terra Bella. He is the oldest of three children and his mother believed in community involvement and helped in UFW and community activities. She was instrumental in fundraising for the construction of Terra Bella’s Miguel Agustin Catholic Church. Rudy assisted in neighborhood Charreadas, yard sales and bake sales.
Rudy graduated from Porterville High School, Porterville College and CSUB with a bachelor’s in Public Administration. He was an active member and officer with MECHA. And was an active and dedicated CHMA member who was in charge of the Porterville Cinco de Mayo Parade. He also served on the City of Porterville’s Citizen Charter Review Advisory Committee and the City’s Community Development Block Grant Advisory Committee.
Rudy’s employment history includes EOPS program assistant at PC, Eligibility Worker at the Health and Human Services Administration and for the past 30 years he has worked for the State of California Employment Development Department. He served as co-chair of the PC Job Fair for the past six years.
“Comision Honorifica honors our 2018 Cinco de Mayo Grand Marshals, Rudy and Maria Roman, for their dedication, their achievements and for cultivating unity and community spirit,” CHMA stated.