appropriate government agen- National Hispanic Scholarship





 __ __ __ __ __ _took to get the job done." b e
 Almeida decided to return touh Civec and Fine Ar Association
 She's prou of her Hispanic people visit Tampa a year due She said she loved to sit down college to earn herCaster's de- s


 ut tht does not defe her supports the surrounding busi- "It inspired me," said Al- and counselingt
 either. ness districts. Tampa's positive meida. "I ate itup and deamed "My colleague said she no-t
 Despite the fact that Diana grwth isdirecty linked t the of oe.day becoing a history ticed students always comin
 Almeida shat-: teacher." ig to me for advice and that in
 tered both racials not dfine to our c t hnex o hem andfirst, she gshe thought thi t trait would fo H sse

 and sexual st- n-liSpOfic wOmIan O. Cb ir fulfilled her other make me a good guidance oas named the 2006 Tampa
 borough County Hslla- dream moth- counselor," said Almeida. Hispanic tage,In.
 borough County Diwaana A o a ierhood.. After thought the students went to of theYearin honor ofher
 when she iwas graduating from all their teachers for adic. I tie of aco ishm s
 named the first Jefferson High hadno idea it was rare for that U e ing he hn
 Hispanic woman School in 1955 to hspeech shold
 on such presti- -she married "the Se spet time s a guid- be aer acc
 e Tam ds as Pot love of my -life, ance counselor at a umber of me a
 the Tampa ort Danny Almeida,"' juniorhigh schools.from 1970 whch sh rpd
 Authority., the a local.ballpayer -972. n 1972 shejoinedHii- ca
 Tam`pa Sport.s. alo9 ^0
 Authority and who was travel- sborough County Community w th ts e n
 Authe orty au ing the country .College as a counselor. From His i
 mthe Hillsborough on the minor 1975-. 1984 she was a foreign somethin Q
 Counts Humanc league circuit. student advisor at HCC, coun- ga Colmbs the one
 she does not tcil, A short time seling students from 56 coun- c
 she do e not wnt later she gave tries,. helping them to adjust his hitoric voyage. Me. are a
 thatto be her leg- birth to their to their new life in the United her e e
 ac"I'd raer only child De- States. In 1985 she was named ce.
 be remahered just nie (now known HCCdea of studetserces
 as a person," sairemembered as Jiudge Denise at its Brandon's campus and' mn
 as a person," said Pomponio), and later at its Dale Mabry Cam- shoud't be exciting.
 Almnever strived.to spent the next pus. She retired in .1993.
 be Hispanicoreda five years as a Of course, teaching has ing people wol say, Look at
 be Hispanc or a. housewife. been just. one part of.her life.. a that Hispanic wo n
 just how I was But, in 19601. She is a sccesshl mother doe
 bjust how h eas e the University and civic leader Besides the to
 boways. Whatri ve ato be of South Florida TSA, Port Authority and Hu- ery
 ias a good citizen opened its doors man Rights Council, Almeid cot t t t
 W hat do I want and Almeida was has also served on the Salva- this wor w d
 y legac t o bt the first in lne, tion Army Advisory Council, which we iv
 my legacy to be? majoringin both
 Not as a woman majoring in both
 or a Hispanic, but "Queen Isabella gave Columbus the money ish. Her mother
 asa good persn close to 500 years ago to go on his historic was very sup-
 deeds helped her voyage. We are all here today because of the portive, looking
 community." success of a Hispanic womnan, so a Hispanic auter Almeda
 Almeida's mo- woman's accomplishments are nothing new." dSugh t te wd
 tives have indeed class, but others n
 been selfless. She was ap- port's growth." in the community were not as 3
 pointed to the Tampa Sports And the port's growth can open minded.
 Authority (TSA) by Governor be directly linked to Almeida's "It was unusual for married
 Bob Martinez in 1984. By 1989 drive and determination. women to go to college. It was
 rumors were abound that she "And my drive can be di- even more unusual for moth-
 was slated to be named chair- rectly linked to Ybor City," ers to go to college. And it was
 person of the TSA. With the said Almeida. "It's not. a coin- unheard of for Hispanic women
 Super Bowl coming to town cidence that so many of the to go to college," exclaimed Al-
 the following year, it was to be community's leaders come meida. "I was expected to stay
 her crowning moment. Instead, from Ybor City. It was such a home and raise my daughter.
 she stepped down. special place to grow up." But I've never cared what
 "The Tampa Port Author- Born in Ybor City in 1937, people thought about me. I
 ity had an opening and I was she was raised on 18th Street, follow my heart. During the
 not allowed to serve on both just one block from Cuscaden week my mother helped with
 the Sports Authority and the Park, where she spent much my daughter and onri weekends
 Port Authority," explained Al- of her free time watching the I'd pack up a coloring book
 meida. "A lot of people could Inner-Social League base- and crayons and bring her to
 not understand wlhy anybody ball games. On Friday nights the library with me. Today,
 would give up being chaiir of she enjoyed walking Seventh my daughter is a judge, so it
 the Sports-Authoritythe year Avenue with her friends and worked out I guess."
 of the Super Bowl. Well, in my purchasing ice cream or crab It took her just three years
 heart of hearts I think the Port cakes. On Satudays she spent to earn her B.A. and she im- Proven to 0e fair, eficent n eecte..
 Authority is a whole lot more time at the Ritz Theatre watch- mediately found work as a
 important than the Sports ing the double features, serials world history teacher at Hill- Former (ounty (oturi JUdge.
 Authority. The port is the main and the news. sborough High School, where
 economic.engine of our area. I "That was the ritual," she she stayed until 196.9. While Successful Trial Attorney for 25 years.
 love sports so much. ButI love explained. she was known as one of the lfisborough uny Resident sne 1962.
 Tampa more and knew I could Her mother, Clotilde, was a school district's most innova-
 to do more to help Tampa by housewife andher father, Hal- tive history teachers, grabbing Extremelyctive in Ihe communi
 joining the Port Authority." do Toledo, was a well known the students attention with X
 Her selfless act helped barber in Ybor City who owned such exercises as wearing a 0 Author, sx sets of publishei legal books.
 drive Tampa's economy to new Ralph's Barbershop on Sev- toga when teaching them about AsssnSte Arny 98-
 heights. She served as chair- enth Avenue. When business Greece, it was her work as a Assistant Stte Attorney, 1981
 person of the Tampa Port Au- was bad in the 1950s and 60s mentor for the Cuban refugees Elder, Fores Hilis Presbyerin Church.
 thority from 1990 1992 and and his shop was closed down, of the 1960s in which she may
 Sunder her leadership the port he becarnie a delivery man for have made her.biggest impact
 began to redevelop its docks the Tropical Brewery in Ybor on the corrimunity. A true commetl o
 and wharfs and developed the City. Years later he opened a "These were not uneducated excellence and stre th
 Florida Aquarium. Before these new barbershop in Palmetto children," remembered Al-
 projects, the Tampa Port and Beach, which quickly became a meida. "They were all brilliant in the courtroom
 the area now known as Chan- popular leasure destination. children struggling to adjust to
 nelside were barren. Only one "Back then the old timers a new culture and a new lan- land In our communty.
 cruise line visited Tampa, and loved hanging out in the bar- guage. Theyjust needed some-
 only did so for a few months a bershops," explained Almeida. one to guide them throughthe
 year. Businesses were scarce "It was right across the street initial adjustment period." FOR MORE INFORMAT
 the area now known as Chan- the firemen f equenting the school with the students, www.bapnerforu
 tumbleweeds blowing by than 'I drove by the building that English and Spanish for them Or calI (813) 361
 customers stopping in. housed his business and saw so they could learn both the
 Today, both the port and a sign hanging on it that says coursework and the language. P0o. adv. pd for & approved by Elizabeth L. Hapner r3
 Channelside are thriving eco- 'Palmetto Beach Community When the students' parents
 nomic epicenters of Tampa. Center.' I laughed and said to would hear of how helpful
 "There were people who told myself, 'It was a community Almeida was, they'd also go to
 thePortAuthoritythatwewere center years before they put her for help. TO Subscribe to La c

 said Tampa was not geographi- Besides being a well known doctors, lawyers and CPAs and
 cally located ina place where barber, her father was also a they needed help in getting
we could draw enough interest tremendous history buff, as their professional licenses,"

Page 16iLA GACETA/Friday, Oct0ber 27, 2006