Rep. Juan Vargas, Senator Alex Padilla Introduce Bill to Rename San Diego Post Office After Late Latino Civil Rights Activist Armando Rodriguez

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Representative Juan Vargas (D-CA-52) and U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA) introduced a bicameral bill to rename a San Diego post office after the late Mexican-American civil rights advocate Armando Rodriguez. The "Armando Rodriguez Post Office" would be located at 2777 Logan Avenue, which is currently designated as the "César E. Chávez Post Office."

Armando Rodriguez was a pioneering Latino educator and World War II veteran who served under four U.S. presidents while advocating for civil rights and education reforms across the state. Rodriguez immigrated to the United States from Mexico at a young age and grew up on Logan Avenue in San Diego, California. Following the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Rodriguez enlisted in the Army and earned U.S. citizenship. Once he returned to San Diego, Rodriguez organized an American Legion Post, taught at a nearby junior high school, and was appointed as the first director of Mexican American Affairs by former President Lyndon B. Johnson. He later served as the Assistant Commissioner of Education in the Office of Regional Office Coordination under former President Richard Nixon.

"Armando Rodriguez was a trailblazing educator, a civil rights activist, a champion for Latino communities, and a dedicated public servant who worked in multiple presidential administrations for presidents of both parties. Armando rose to the highest levels of our government but he never forgot his roots in our community and was committed to creating opportunity for students everywhere," said Rep. Juan Vargas. "Renaming the post office will help ensure that Armando's extraordinary life and legacy is always remembered."

"Armando Rodriguez was a champion for civil liberties and educational opportunities for Latino communities in California," said Senator Alex Padilla. "His legacy has left an indelible mark on San Diego and it's only right that we recognize his contributions as a Latino civil rights advocate. Renaming this post office ensures his legacy remains a part of American history for future generations."

Later in life, Rodriguez became the first Latino president of East Los Angeles College. In 1978, former President Jimmy Carter appointed Rodriguez to serve on the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, where Rodriguez continued to advocate for educational opportunities for Latinos. Since his passing in 2019, Rodriguez has been remembered by communities nationwide for his long life of service and advocacy.

Full text of the bill is available here.

###