Albert Garcia
Mr. Albert Garcia was born in Vallecitos, New Mexico. Upon the murder of his brother, Garcia’s dad left Mexico for the United States. At the same time, his mother had moved from New Mexico to California during World War II to work as a riveter for an aircraft company as part of the war effort. Eventually, they both returned to his mother’s hometown, Vallecitos. In this tight-knit Hispanic mining town, Garcia grew up surrounded by Catholic practices and influences, although he never considered himself religious. He moved with his family to Lark, Utah, as an infant. Upon the closure of the mining town, his family relocated to Midvale. Throughout his life, he has hopped through the Salt Lake Valley and ultimately settled in Murray.
During the Vietnam War, he joined the National Guard. He completed the paratrooper training and served for several years. Unfortunately, due to a parachuting accident, he experienced several health complications but eventually recovered through specialized treatment.
Upon graduating from high school, he studied at the University of Utah. During the 1970s, there were increased efforts to recruit more Hispanic students, leading to expanded enrollment opportunities. He attributed his educational career to his sister, who initially encouraged him. Although undecided at first, Garcia ultimately pursued a career in accounting.
This culminated in a 36-year career at the Internal Revenue Service. During his long career at the IRS, he investigated cases of workplace discrimination and served as a special emphasis program manager, including as Hispanic Program Manager. Although Garcia did not consider himself political, he got involved in an investigation into discriminatory hiring practices at Salt Lake County, which led to changes in policy.
After retiring, he didn’t have many hobbies, but he gravitated towards genealogy. Garcia began learning more about his roots and was interested in whether he could preserve them. This led him to participate in the Genealogical Society of Hispanic America, where he eventually became president. Although Garcia did not label himself as political, he found issues of justice and representation followed him throughout his career and beyond.
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Acknowledgments:
| Narrator | Interviewer(s) | Digital Content Creator |
| Albert Garcia | Ed A. Muñoz & Antonio Fierro | Bhavika Malik |





