Ramiro Vasquez-Padilla » Directory of award recipients

Biographical Info

Ramiro Vasquez (posthumous) award presentation by Alejandra Muller, president of the UN Association of OKC. Ahiezer A. Black accepts the award for the Vasquez family.

Award ceremony introduction as made by Bill Bryant of United Nations Association of OKC:

One of the 2019 Oklahoma Human Rights Awards is given in memory of Mr. Ramiro Vasquez Padilla.

Mr. Padilla was nominated by Wilfredo Santos-Rivera, who wrote:

“Ramiro Vasquez was a humanitarian.  He supported community-based organizations with his time, money and business. Case in point, the DREAMERS used his restaurant in south Oklahoma City, La Oaxaquena, to organize locally in order to fight for the civil and human rights of the new immigrants.

“Another example, was his assistance to LULAC the Latin-American Civil Rights organization, who also met and organized in La Quaxaquena.

“Ramiro helped the Public Schools of OKC, helping to feed poor children. He took an active role in the PTAs, in order to foster community involvement in the schools. He not only worked with grassroots organizations, he also worked with individuals in order to achieve employment, housing and health services.”

“All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.”

–Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Nomination entry:

Ramiro Vasquez Padilla, was a humanitarian.  He supported community-based organizations with his time, money and business. Case in point, the DREAMERS used his restaurant, La Oaxaquena, to organize locally in order to fight for the civil and human rights of the new immigrants. Another example, was his assistance to LULAC the Latin-American Civil Rights OKC Chapter, who also met and organized in La Quaxaquena. Ramiro helped the Public Schools of OKC, helping to feed the poor children and took an active role in the PTAs, in order to foster community involvement in the schools. He not only worked with grassroots organizations, he also worked with individuals in order to achieve employment, housing and health services.

Ramiro always went beyond the call of duty; Ramiro was an advocate for his community. He hired legal help for people with immigration problems and helped people with bail bond money and even hired private investigators to help with an abduction case. It would be very befitting to recognize Ramiro Vasquez Padilla posthumously for these and other humanitarian efforts not mentioned.