Adelfa B Callejo, La Madrina de Dallas, es un vivo ejemplo por su Espíritu de Excelencia y una Estrella de Esperanza para las Comunidades!

DALLAS, TX.- La gran calidad humana, el orgullo latinoamericano que corre por sus venas y su singular espíritu de positivismo y superación fueron los aspectos principales que la llevaron a ser la exitosa dama que a estas alturas de la vida es; nos estamos refiriendo a la muy querida y respetada Abogada Adelfa B. Callejo, “la Madrina de Dallas” como se le denomina en algunos sectores de nuestra comunidad.

Hablar de la Abogada Callejo es lo mismo que hablar de Elegancia, Astucia, Inteligencia, Liderazgo, Amistad y Filantropía; cualidades que a través de los años le han valido el reconocimiento y el respeto de todos quienes la conocen; y por si todo esto fuera poco, entre tantos y tantos reconocimientos recibidos, la Abogada Callejo cuenta con un importantísimo nombramiento que recibió en el año de 1999 y que le fuera otorgado por Today’s Dallas Woman Magazine cuando la nombró “La Mujer del Año” por su larga vida al servicio de la comunidad.

En el presente y a la edad de 83 años, la Abogada Callejo es una prominente dama de sociedad y disfruta del cariño y el respeto de muchas personas que han convivido con ella ya sea por asuntos personales o de negocios, lo que le causa un gran orgullo ya que todo lo ha alcanzado a base de esfuerzos y sacrificios.

Actualmente Adelfa B. Callejo está felizmente casada con Mr. William E. Callejo con quien contrajo matrimonio en diciembre de 1946, a quien considera además de su esposo, su mejor amigo y socio.

Aparentemente todo ha ido de maravilla para la Abogada Callejo, pero las cosas no han sido tan fáciles. Ella nació en 1923 en la ciudad rural de Millett, Texas. y fue la hija mayor de un matrimonio que procreó cinco hijos. Sus padres eran mexicanos. Eran tiempos de segregación racial, no muy fáciles que digamos.

Tras experimentar las indignidades sufridas por su familia, amigos y vecinos animaron a la entonces jovencita a estudiar abogacía, carrera que ella siguió asistiendo a la Universidad y al Colegio de Abogados, por la noche, ya que durante el día trabajaba para ayudar y apoyar a sus padres.

Cuando ella asistía a la Universidad era la única estudiante hispana y graduó en 1961 después de algunas interrupciones debido a la precaria situación económica de su familia.

Por su experiencia propia la Abogada Callejo conoce perfectamente los obstáculos que diariamente tienen que sortear los hispanos en este maravilloso país y es por eso que gran parte de su vida la ha dedicado a ayudar y defender a su comunidad, por lo que se le ha considerado como la voz apasionada en la defensa de los derechos humanos.

En esta ocasión y porque se lo ha ganado a pulso y con todo el respeto que ella se merece, Felicitamos Cordialmente a la Abogada Adelfa B. Callejo y le agradecemos todo su entusiasmo y todo el cariño que ha demostrado siempre por la comunidad hispana; y le transmitimos, además, el sentir de gran cantidad de personas que al preguntarles su opinión acerca del trabajo por ella ha desempeñado, acertaron al decir que si hubiera más Adelfas Callejo, el bienestar de la comunidad hispana estaría resuelto.

Abajo, estimados lectores, lean la biografía completa de la Abogada Callejo.

BIOGRAPHY:

Adelfa B. Callejo Born in Millett, Texas (June 10, 1923); Married – William F. Callejo (December 27, 1946); No children.

PROFESSIONAL AND BUSINESS EXPERIENCE:

Self-employed: Personal Injury, Criminal and Family Law Practice attorney, private practice, 1961-1966; Partnership, (with husband) 1966-Present:

Callejo & Callejo; Telephone: (214) 741-6711 4314 N. Central Expressway; Fax: (214) 826-5900; Dallas, Texas 75206.

Prior to my becoming an attorney, my husband and I were in the import-export business in California and in México, and, later, I worked in several corporate offices in Dallas among them the International Departments of Dresser Industries, and the Mercantile National Bank. My husband and I presently have real estate investments in Virginia, California, Florida and Texas which we operate and manage.

EDUCATION:

Graduated: Cotulla High School, Cotulla, Texas – 1939

Bachelor of Arts, Southern Methodist University – 1964

Juris Doctor, Southern Methodist University – 1961

PRESENT AFFILIATIONS:

(current)

LEGAL:

Admitted to practice:

Supreme Court of Texas – 1961

United States District Courts:Northern District of Texas – 1961 Western District of Texas – 1979 Supreme Court of the United States – 1966

State Bar of Texas – Member (Past Director)

Dallas Bar Association – Member (Several Committees)

Dallas County Criminal Bar Association – Member – (Past President)

SMU Dedman School of Law – Member Executive Board

Hispanic National Bar Association. Member, – former Regional President (Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana & Oklahoma)

Section on Concerns of the Spanish Speaking Community of Texas – Member

Mexican American Bar Association of Texas – Member (Founder and Past President)

Mexican American Bar Association of Dallas – Member (Founder)

CIVIC:

Hispanic Leadership Roundtable – Chair, Representation Committee

Hispanic Leadership Institute – Member

Dallas Together Forum – Member – Past Co-Chair

The Tomas Rivera Policy Institute – Member, Board of Trustees

Dallas Hispanic Citizens’ Council – Member

Coalition of Hispanic Organizations – Chairman & Founder

Dallas Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Dallas – Member – Board Member

League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) Member, Dallas Council No. 100

Mexican American business and Professional Women – Member

Friends of the Dallas Public Library – Member

American G.I. Forum – Member (Founder Dallas Chapter)

POLITICAL:

Texas Democratic Party:

Sustaining Member

Tejano Democrats – Member (Founder)

Dallas County Democratic Party – Sustaining Member

North Texas Voter Education Trust – Trustee/Founding Member

PAST AFFILIATIONS:

LEGAL:

State Bar of Texas – Director, 1997 – 2000

Hispanic National Bar Association – Regional President, 1989 – 1993

United States Department of Justice

Commission on Hispanic Affairs – Member, 1978-80 (Attorney General: Benjamin Civiletti, Esq.)

United States District Court Nominating Commission (for the United States magistrates for the Northern District of Texas) – Member, 1978

State Bar of Texas – Co-Chair, Membership Involvement Committee

State Bar of Texas – Member – since 1961 Section on concerns of the Spanish Speaking Community of Texas, Secretary-Treasurer, 1979-80 – Committee on Selection, compensation and Tenure of State Judges, Member, 1976-82

Dallas Bar Association – Member – since 1962

Goals committee, Member, 1974-75

Civic Affairs Committee, Chairperson 1975-1976

Legal Services and Legal Aid Committee, Chairperson, 1978

Dallas County Criminal Bar Association – President, 1972-73; director, 1968-75;

Dallas Legal Services Project

Member of founding Board of Directors, 1966-73

CIVIC:

Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport Board – Member – 1993-95 – 1995-97

DART – Dallas Area Rapid Transit Board – Member 1988-1989

DISD Superintendent’s Advisory Committee – Member

Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund (MALDEF)

Board Member (1980 – 1992)

1st Vice President 1991-1992,

Leadership Skills Steering Committee

Dallas Housing Authority Board of Commissioners Chairperson, 1974-78

Channel 13 – Public Broadcasting Service Public Communications Foundation of North Texas Trustee, 1974-75

Dallas Municipal Library Board – Member 1971-73

Chairperson, 1974-75

Dallas County Child Welfare Board, Member

Dallas County Juvenile Needs and Activities Committee, Member, 1988

Inroads/Dallas, Inc., Director, 1981-82

Common Concern (A Youth Service System Project), Member, Steering Committee, 1974-75

Dallas County Camp Fire Girls, Inc., Member, 1972

Southwest voter Registration Project – Dallas Co-Chair

Dallas County Mental Health and Retardation Board Member, 1967-68

North Texas Regional Health Planning Council, Board Member, 1973-75

North Texas Health Systems, Inc., Board of Directors Vice Chairperson, 1976-78

Dallas Mexican (Hispanic) Chamber of Commerce, Board of Directors, 1980-81

Goals for Dallas, Trustee, 1975-80

Treasurer, 1978-80

Mayor’s Criminal Justice Task Force – Member 1985-86

Dallas Water Advisory Board – Director 1973-75

Skyline Advisory Board, Dallas Chamber Member, 1972-75

Dallas Alliance – Board Member & Treasurer

Dallas Alliance on shaping Safer Cities, Inc. Member 1973

Dallas County Sheriff’s Review Board Member 1971-73

TEJAS Justice Association – Chairperson (Founder)

I.M.A.G.E. – Member

American Revolution Bicentennial, Dallas Corporation, Director, 1976

Interracial Council for Business Opportunity Co-Chairperson, 1972-74

BUSINESS BOARD

OF DIRECTORS:

Kaiser Permanente – Board of Directors – 1982-1998

SOCIAL:

LULAC – Lifetime Member

Chair – Credentials Committee LULAC National Convention 2004

POLITICAL:

Citizens Charter Association (CCA) – City of Dallas, Executive Committee Member, 1973-74

Presidential Commission on White House Fellowships Member, 1980 – Southwest Regional Selection Panel

National Democratic Party:

Carter Delegate – 1980 Democratic National Convention

Dukakis Delegate – 1988 Democratic National Convention

Clinton Delegate – 1992 Democratic National Convention

Democratic National Committee – Member – 1992-1996

Hispanic American Democrats (HAD) National Caucus, Director and founding member – 1979 – 1980 HAD National Convention Delegate

Texas Democratic Party:

1978 – 2002 – Delegate – Texas State Conventions

1972 – 2002 – Delegate – 16th Senatorial District Conventions

1974 – 1992 Member & Founder – Mexican American Democrats of

Texas (MAD) & 16th Senatorial District Chapter

Mexican American Democrats of Texas (MAD) (Founder) Executive

Committee Member

National Democratic Party: Democratic National Committee Member – 1992 – 1996

Democratic Campaigns 1992 – 1996: Participated in campaigns and electioneering in support of all Democratic candidates in the National, State, and Dallas County races which required active support.

Democratic Candidate Campaigns: – Past

Ann Richards Campaign – 1990

Dan Morales Campaign – 1990

Lloyd Bentsen Campaign Steering Committee- 1982, 1988

Mark White, Amigas de – Steering Committee – 1982, 1986

Jim Mattox Campaign Steering Committee – 1986

Michael Dukakis Campaign – 1988

Supreme Court of Texas Justices’ Campaigns: Oscar Mauzy; Raul Gonzales; Ted Z. Robertson; Jack Hightower; Lloyd Doggett and Bill Kilgarlin

Democratic Local Judicial elections

Nonpartisan Campaigns

City Council – 1962 – present

DISD School Board – 1962 – present

Committee for Qualified Judiciary – Director – Past 1982 Judicial Elections (screening, evaluation and recommendation) Dallas County

Dallas Area Women’s Political Caucus, Advisory Board, Member – Past

RECOGNITION,

HONORS AND AWARDS:

Meritorious Service Award:

1973, President, Dallas County Criminal Bar Association

Recognition, Dallas Times Herald: December 29th, 1974 – “Top Ten Women Shapers”

Meritorious Service Awards, City of Dallas, Texas:

1975, Chairperson, Dallas Library Board

1978, Chairperson, Dallas Housing Authority

Recognition, The Women’s Center of Dallas: May 26th, 1978 – “Honoree”

Recognition, Lackland Air Force Base: August 24th, 1979 – “Honoree”, Federal Women’s Program

Award, Texas Peace Officers Association: 1980 Humanitarian Award: “For dedication to the field of law enforcement and for the continuous support for the equality under the law for all mankind.”

Award, I.M.A.G.E. OF Maryland: January, 1982 – “For contributions on the field of law on behalf of Hispanics.”

Recognition: Honorary biographical publications: June, 1976 – Dallas Magazine

September, 1976 – La Luz (national Hispanic) magazine

May 23rd, 1982 – “High Profile”, Dallas Morning News

December, 1982 – Parkway Magazine

April 1984 – “Hora Latina” Adelfa B. Callejo – Una Mujer de Temple con un Corazón que Late en Español

December 16, 1985 – INSIGHT – The Washington Times “Hispanic America”

September, 1986 – “D” magazine: “The Forgotten Minority”

October 1986 – Hispanic Business – 100 Influentials

Fall 1986 – Southern Methodist University – Alumni of Record

March 28, 1989 – LULAC Hispanic Entrepreneurship Award “ “for your business contributions to the community your achievements and success set an outstanding example to Hispanic Americans – that the American dream, if you strive can come true.”

June 1990 – Reynaldo G. Garza Award of Merit “for a lifetime of contributions to the Hispanic Community from the Section on the Concerns of the Spanish Speaking Community of the State Bar of Texas.”

September 26, 1992 – Hispanic National Bar Association – Juarez-Lincoln Award “for lifelong dedication and commitment to advancing the law and the Latino Legal Community.”

January 17, 1994 – Martin Luther King, Jr. – Justice Award. Selected by and from the Dallas Bar Association and the ethnic minority bar associations – Mexican American Bar Association, J.L. Turner Legal Society, the Asian American Bar Association and the Native American Bar Association.

September 16, 1995 – Dallas Women Lawyers – Louise B. Raggio Award

September 22, 1995 – Lifetime Achievement Award – Mexican American Bar Association (MABA) of Texas.

May 2nd, 1996 – Equal Justice Award – Legal Services of North Dallas.

October 3, 1996 – “Distinguished Law Alumni Award” – SMU law School

November 20, 1996 – “Dreamer Doer And unsung Hero Award” from the Real Estate Council 1997 – Miller Brewing Co. – Hispanic Americans in the Law – Pillars of a Just Society (one of 12 attorneys selected from throughout the U.S.)

April 9, 1997 – Justinian Award from Dallas lawyers Auxiliary.

May 8, 1997 – Houston Hispanic Bar Association’s Award of Lifetime Achievement.

January 31, 1998 – American Bar Association – Commission on Opportunities for Minorities in the Legal Profession – “1998 Spirit of Excellence Award”

May 23, 1998 “Salute to Women” Award – League of United American Citizens – Council 272

July 2, 1998 “OHTLI RECONOCIMIENTO” Recognition Award from the Mexican Government for dedication and commitment to the rights of persons of Mexican origin – Presented at the LULAC National Convention in Dallas Texas

March 1999 – Woman of the Year – Today’s Dallas Woman

June 1999 – Latino Monthly – Profile – Powerful Civil Rights Activist

Sept. 15, 1999 – Dallas Mornings News/La Fuente. A Lifelong Champion of Hispanics

May 20, 2000 – Texas Youth Commission-Cottrell House – Special Contributions to Youth

June 30, 2000 – Induction to LULAC Women’s Hall of Fame

Nov. 7, 2001 – The Dallas Concilio Volunteer Awards – Family of the Year

Sept. 13, 2002 – “Lifetime Achievement Award” from the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund (MALDEF)

Nov. 5, 2002 – “Volunteer Community Leadership Award” for excellence from the Dallas Historical Society.

Dec. 2002 – Profile “Mujer tu Vales Mucho” – Dallas Recognition of efforts, perseverance and achievements.

2002 – LULAC Women’s National Hall of Fame

2003 – LULAC President’s National Circle of Excellence Award

April 6, 2004 – Latina Pioneer Tribute – Hispanic 100

April 21, 2004 – Dallas Bar Foundation – Fellows Award Distinguished Legal Career and Civic Contributions

October 29, 2004 – National Hispana Leadership Institute – Mujer Regional Award

July 19, 2005 – National Council of la Raza – 2005 Graciela Olivarez La Raza Award

March 2, 2005 – Southern Methodist University – Profile in Leadership Award

May 5, 2006 – Sandra Day O’Connor Award