Throughout history, Hispanic-Americans have helped shape Florida. Melquiades (Mel) R. Martinez is one such Hispanic-American who has influenced Florida’s history and culture in many ways, including being the first Cuban-American to serve in the U.S. Senate. From 2005-2009 he served as Senator of Florida.
Melquiades was born to Melquiades and Gladys Ruiz Martinez on October 23rd, 1946 in Sagua La Grande, Cuba. In 1962 at the age of 16 he fled Cuba to escape an outbreak of violence in his hometown. After fleeing, he settled in Florida. He was placed with a foster family in Orange County, Florida, until his parents got to the US in 1966. He studied hard and received both his Bachelor of Science (B.S.) and Juris Doctor (J.D.) degrees from Florida
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According to www.politico.com “My priorities have always been my faith, my family and my country and at this stage in my life, and after nearly twelve years of public service in Florida and Washington, it’s time I return to Florida and my family,” Martinez said. This is supporting that he really does try his hardest to increase homeownership and end homelessness. He was Chairman for the Orlando housing authority and later was selected to be Secretary of HUD (Department of Housing and Urban Development). This position allowed him to continue his commitment to affordable …show more content…
Melquiades (Mel) R. Martinez is one such Hispanic-American who has influenced Florida’s history and culture in many ways, including being the first Cuban-American to serve in the U.S. Senate. From 2005-2009 he served as Senator of Florida.
Melquiades was born to Melquiades and Gladys Ruiz Martinez on October 23rd, 1946 in Sagua La Grande, Cuba. In 1962 at the age of 16 he fled Cuba to escape an outbreak of violence in his hometown. After fleeing, he settled in Florida. He was placed with a foster family in Orange County, Florida, until his parents got to the US in 1966. He studied hard and received both his Bachelor of Science (B.S.) and Juris Doctor (J.D.) degrees from Florida State University. After college, he worked as a partner at Wooten Kimbrough, P.A., a law firm. A few years later he married Kitty Martinez and had one daughter and two