FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Silvia Hasak, Lee County Hispanic Affairs Advisory Board (941) 656-7912

THE LATE CUAUHTEMOC ZAPATA FIRST INDUCTEE TO

FORT MYERS, Fla. (September 26, 2000) – The Lee County Hispanic Affairs Advisory Board has chosen the late Cuauhtemoc Zapata as the first inductee into the newly created Lee County Hispanic Hall of Fame and will present a plaque to his family at the Oct. 3 Board of Lee County Commissioners meeting.

The presentation will be at 9:30 a.m. in the County Commission Chambers, second floor of the Old County Courthouse, 2120 Main Street in downtown Fort Myers.

Zapata, 37, was the founder of La Caliente WWCL-1440 AM and an activist for the local Hispanic community. He died Feb. 28 after a 15-year battle with diabetes.

"Broadcasting from WWCL 1440 AM, Cuauhtemoc urged the community to educate themselves, become involved in community events, learn English, retain their Hispanic heritage, become U.S. citizens and register to vote," says Cathy Whidden, WWCL’s director of public relations. "His enthusiasm sparked us all."

Zapata, a former farm worker himself, fought to get Pueblo Bonito developed in Bonita Springs and it was one of his most important community efforts. He also helped organize festivals, held voter registration drives, raised scholarship funds and hosted Hispanic dignitaries. In 1996, Zapata was honored by both President Ernesto Zedillo of Mexico and U.S. President Bill Clinton for his community involvement.

The Lee County Hispanic Hall of Fame will annually induct a new local member during Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs from mid-September to mid-October. Finalists this year were News-Press columnist Martha Hill; Rev. Israel Suarez of the Nations Association; Bobbie Perez of Salsa Awards; and Johnnie Restrepo, co-owner of Cachet Bar & Grill and Coqui Projections.

The Hispanic Affairs Advisory Board of Lee County was established in 1991 and serves as an advisory group to the Board of Lee County Commissioners. The 12-member board identifies and evaluates problems unique to the Hispanic community, reviews and recommends ways to ensure open communication between the Hispanic community and Lee County government, and promotes and fosters a better understanding of the problems facing the Hispanic community.

During Cinco de Mayo, the Board also presents Hispanic Achievement Awards, which recognize those persons who project a positive image on a daily basis, while overcoming cultural, language, economic, health or other barriers.