The Arizona Republic
Lois McFarland
September 9, 2005

SCOTTSDALE - Frances and Jose Burruel have been champions for the underserved and disadvantaged for more than a quarter century.

The couple are being recognized today at Valle del Sol's 12 Profiles of Success awards luncheon. The non-profit organization selected the Burruels as the Hall of Fame winners.

The Burruels, who prefer to serve quietly in the background and come forward with action only when the occasion demands, are being honored for their lifelong dedication to Latino issues that "have significantly impacted lives of many in a positive way and beyond expectations."

Education has always been of prime importance to Frances and Jose, both of whom have worked in education.

"Jose and Frances share a passion of ensuring that Latinos are provided a fair opportunity to receive a quality education and to participate in other areas that lead to a better quality of life," said nominator Sandra Zapien-Ferrero, a former member of the Scottsdale Unified School District governing board.

Their service on boards and commissions is far reaching and includes the League of United Latin America Citizens, Herberger Theatre, Scottsdale Sister Cities Association, the Arizona Theatre Company, Heard Museum, medical & dental clinic of St. Vincent de Paul, Citizens for Accountability and Responsibility in Education, Paiute Neighborhood Center, the Old Adobe Mission restoration committee and Las Damas del Valle.

One project the Burruels saw to completion after a year of negotiations with the Mexican government was the gathering and sending of medical supplies including crutches, wheelchairs, examination tables and EKG equipment to Scottsdale's sister city, Alamos, Sonora. They called on their friend Eddie Basha for help in transporting the supplies and even Mexico's first lady, Marta Sahagún de Fox helped by cutting through red tape so that supplies could enter Mexico tax-free.

"There were so many involvements by so many different people on both sides of the border," said Frances, who chairs the sister cities Alamos committee. "It became a 'How can we help you make this happen?' kind of project. It was both exhausting and exhilarating at the same time."

Another challenge taken on by the pair was persuading the Scottsdale School Board to allow minority businesses to bid for contract work. Through their efforts, the district's purchasing, bidding and hiring policies were rewritten to allow businesses owned by minorities and women to secure construction and goods and services contracts. Jose also is known for championing the rights of students.

The two have been involved with the Paiute Neighborhood Center since its inception, volunteering and teaching English classes for adults and assisting in various advocacy roles. Their current involvement is with the Paiute Action Committee and Conexiones, a group serving as a resource for the Spanish-speaking community.

As a child, Jose, 80, attended the Old Adobe Mission Church on Brown Avenue in Old Town Scottsdale. It was built in 1933 mainly by the Mexican community. Upon learning the little mission was being considered for Scottsdale's Historic Registry, he contacted descendents of eight Mexican families who attended the City Council meeting and related their involvement with the mission and its historic significance to the city. Both honorees serve on the church's restoration committee, which is raising funds for the project.

A tireless advocate for LULAC since 1978, Jose is the state director for civil rights. He has never been one to "join the crowd," Frances said, "and he won't back off when he believes he's right."

Jose was also involved with recruiting athletes at Arizona State University.

Jose earned undergraduate and doctoral degrees at ASU. During his career he taught or was an administrator from the elementary to the university level at various institutions including being a professor at California State University-Dominguez Hill, assistant dean of students at ASU and assistant professor in the college of education at ASU.

Frances, 62, grew up in Southern California, attended the University of Oklahoma and in 1968 after attending the Olympics in Mexico City decided to expand her knowledge of the Mexican culture. She immersed herself in learning the language while living in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, and in 1970 became one of the first bilingual educators in the Santa Ana and later the Orange unified school districts in California. In Arizona, she worked for the Creighton Unified School District as an instructional aide and community liaison, retiring in 1984.

Jose and Frances met in California while both were involved in their separate school communities as human rights advocates. They married in 1978 and moved to Scottsdale.