Salomón Flores

Flores, Salomón H. Ph.D. Dr. Salomón Hernández Flores passed away on Wednesday, December 5, 2007, age 79, in Milwaukee, WI. He was born on October 14, 1928 in Kansas City, Kansas. Loving father to his three children, María, David and José. Beloved brother of Damaris F. Mendez (nee Flores) and Faron, and uncle to numerous nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by his father Canuto, mother Natividad, and five siblings. Also survived by many friends, colleagues and students in the U.S. and Mexico who are grateful for his kindness and generosity over the years. A son of immigrant Mexican parents, Dr. Flores overcame much adversity as a child and adult to devote his life to service to others. He was a child of the Depression, lived in segregated housing, attended segregated schools, and endured repeated job discrimination. Dr. Flores' career as an educator spanned over 50 years, beginning as a high school teacher of English and Spanish in Kansas and Missouri and retiring at age 72 as Associate Professor Emeritus from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee after 24 years of service in the School of Education. During his tenure at UWM he established the High School Equivalency Program, trained countless teachers particularly in the specialty of bilingual education, and secured funding for the School of Education. He had also taught and trained teachers at Avila College, Northeastern State University, The Ohio State University, the University of Maryland and Chicago State University. Dr. Flores received his B.A. in English at Ottawa University in 1953, his M.A. in Spanish at the University of Kansas in 1963, and his Ph.D. in foreign language instruction at the Ohio State University in 1969. At the national level, he was an early practitioner, advocate and scholar on bilingual education and served over the years as a consultant on bilingual education and multi-cultural education to numerous agencies and educational institutions. During the '60s and '70s, Dr. Flores was active in the civil rights and Chicano rights movements as an educational activist, consultant and proposal writer. He worked directly with the Teacher Training Corps of Texas, the Midwest Desegregation Center, and migrant education programs. In recognition for his efforts and contributions as a Chicano activist, he was granted an audience with President Echeverria of Mexico. His community service continued in Milwaukee, including serving on the board of the Council for the Spanish Speaking and founding a chapter of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC). He was recognized with the UWM Foundation Distinguished Public Service Award in 1990. Dr. Flores attended Rosedale High School where he was a track star, holding championship titles in the mile run and continuing his track career in college. He honorably served his country as a Corporal during the Korean Conflict. As an ordained American Baptist minister, he served as pastor at two churches, one each in Kansas and Missouri, with bilingual ministries. He participated in two missionary tours, one to Cuba and the other to Mexico, while attending Ottawa University. A celebration of Dr. Flores' life and contributions will take place on Thursday, January 31, 2008, at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Alumni Fireside Lounge, Student Union - 1st Floor (Campus Level), 2200 E. Kenwood Blvd., Milwaukee, WI. A reception will take place beginning at 5:00 P.M. followed by a memorial program and scholarship announcement at 6:00 P.M. In lieu of flowers, tax-deductible donations to the scholarship fund are suggested. Checks should be made payable to the "UWM Foundation," annotated on the memo line with the "Salomon H. Flores Memorial Scholarship," and mailed to the UWM Hefter Conference Center, c/o Barbara Monroe, 3271 N. Lake Dr., Milwaukee, WI 53211. "I have fought the good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith." 2 Timothy 4:7