Edward Heriberto Mayer, Assoc. Professor Emeritus: I was born in a three-room railroad house on Dec. 23, to Vicente Villanueva and Alberta Amador. Both had immigrated from Mexico at different years. My mother came with her family of four brothers and one sister; my father had come alone four years earlier.
I attended public school in Salt Lake City, where I learned English and graduated from Davis High School in Davis County. I attended the University of Utah for one year and then spent two years in the U.S. Army in Berlin, West Germany. (My only claim to fame during those two years was each month we were assigned to guard duty at Spandau Prison where Rudolf Hess, Speers, and Von Schirach were imprisoned.)
On my return to Utah, I continued my studies at the University and graduated in 1962. I continued my studies in History and Latin American Literature, but decided to transfer to the University of Missouri, where I received my Ph.D. in 1971. After two years teaching at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, I was offered a position as Assistant Professor at the University of Utah. At the University, in addition to teaching and departmental responsibilities, I served as Director of Chicano Studies from 1976-1988 and Director of Ethnic Studies from 1977-1983. I led the study abroad program for the Spanish department to Europe, Spain, and Mexico for 17 years. I retired in 2007.
I served on the Davis County Mental Health Advisory Board from 1979-1984, Chairman 1979-1981. I served on the Utah Humanities Council for five years, and the Utah Alumni Association for three years.
In 2000-2002 I served an LDS Mission with my wife in the Dominican Republic and in 2012-2013 an LDS Mission in Buenos Aires, Argentina. I also served as an Employment Specialist at the LDS Employment Center in Welfare Square, Salt Lake City from 2007-2012. From 2016 – present, I have worked as a volunteer at the Legacy House Senior Living and Nursing Home.
I married Margaret Wallis in Sept. 1963 and have six children and 23 grandchildren. Margaret has supported and suffered through all the years of my graduate studies and the many responsibilities that have taken me out of the home. If you were to meet any of our children you would understand the good influence their mother had on each of them.
In the last few years I have become concerned and frustrated with the many issues and problems that affect our West Side, Latino, and minority communities and the lack of concern of the policy makers on local, state, and national levels.
I hope I can contribute more to the Counsel in addressing these and other issues and help to bring about change.
Presently I am researching and writing the “History of Centro Civico Mexicano” for Centro Civico Mexicano Salt Lake City.