Hector Godinez

Hector G. Godinez (July 1, 1924 – May 16, 1999) was a civil rights leader and the first Mexican-American postmaster in the United States. He was appointed by President John F. Kennedy as postmaster of Santa Ana in 1961.

During World War II, Godinez served under General George Patton in the United States Army as a Tank Commander in the Third Army. After being wounded, Godinez was honorably discharged and returned home in 1945 as a decorated war hero with five battle stars, one Purple Heart, and one Bronze Star for heroic achievement at the Battle of the Bulge. In 1946, Godinez began his 48-year career with the U.S. Postal Service, starting as a letter carrier and working his way up to a top leadership position. The public high school opened in 2007 and is part of the Santa Ana Unified School District.

Godinez was the recipient of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People’s Human Rights Award and the Western Region’s Community Service Award. He was among the first recipients of the Postmaster General’s Award for Executive Achievement.

Personal life The son of field workers, Godinez was born in 1924 on the grounds of San Diego Mission. His family moved to Santa Ana in 1925, where Godinez lived for the rest of his life.

Godinez was known for his collection of 50 pairs of cowboy boots and his love of Stetson hats. He was a voracious reader, especially of tomes about World War II.

Godinez died at St. Joseph Hospital in Orange after a long struggle with Parkinson's disease.