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Rodolfo "Corky" Gonzales was born in Denver Colorado
Last of Federico and Indalesia González' eight children -
At the age of 2, Corkys mom passed away, leaving his dad to take care of the 8 children.
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He worked alongside his family in beet farms to help raise money as they were right in the Great Depression.
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At 16, Corky graduated from Denver's Manual High. The next year he went to College but had to drop out due to financial reasons. He still continued his pursuit of gaining knowledge about his Mexican Heritage.
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He began his career in Democratic Politics in 1947 in competition to Quigg Newton for Denver Mayor. He mainly focused on the Chicano rights.
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Corky competed in 73 boxing matches. Resulting in a record of 61-11-1. His only title he won was National Amateur Athletic Union Bantamweight Championship, but he was a good fighter and was inducted in the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame in 1988. Becoming the first Latino to be honored.
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He married his wife, Geri.
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Corky, Geri, and their 3 children
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In 1965 he was appointed Deputy Director of Denver's War on Poverty.
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He and other activists created the "Crusade for Justice" foundation.
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Corky resigned from the Democratic Party. He resigned due to the political wrangling. With this time he had he began to focus on his Foundation, and he was an outspoken leader for the Chicano activism.
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Corky and others created this because he found the younger generation of Mexican Americans, more receptive to his major themes of Chicano nationalism, self-determination, and cultural and historical pride.
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Gonzales formed the Colorado La Raza Unida Party, dedicated to the goals of the Chicano movement.
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Police, hearing that this party was armed, raided the headquarters and Luis Martinez was killed. During all of this, a bomb went off destroying one of the buildings part of his Foundation. This majorly impacted the foundation, causing Corky to retreat into private life.
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Corky was diagnosed with renal and coronary distress with acute liver disease, he responded which astounded doctors saying that he would die with his people, refusing treatment.
