Here is a meet the author and a section about his latest book below. You can find more on him at www.cecilgomez.com. He publishes with Gregath and iUniverse.
Meet the Author: "I, Cecil Gomez, am a native son of Oklahoma, born in the little town of Sapulpa, five miles south of Tulsa, Oklahoma. I am the 2nd offspring of Juan and Edelia Gomez’s twelve children. I was raised in the little town of West Tulsa in a forlorn barrio of other Mexican immigrants – all railroad workers – none of whom could speak English. Our little colony of eleven families, called the Y, was comprised of two-room shacks and was completely surrounded by railroad tracks. I attended the Catholic schools of St. Catherine and Holy Family High School. When I enrolled in school at the age of seven, I could not speak English. At the age of eight, I became bilingual and soon thereafter, I became an interpreter for many Mexican families, assisting them in business and personal matters requiring English attention.I served three years in the United States Navy in the Aleutian Islands during World War II. I am married to my wonderful wife Josephine and have four beautiful children – eight grandchildren and two great grandchildren. On returning home from the war, I built my parents a new 7-room home away from the “Y” into a dignified residential part of town. Also, I enrolled in Oklahoma School of Accountancy in Tulsa, and graduated with a BCS. Bachelor of Commercial Science Degree. Pursuing my accounting profession, I later established a very successful accounting Practice. In 1992, I sold my practice and retired. In 1996, I wrote my first book entitled “Mama and Papa’s Twelve Children and the Y, a documentation of the life and times of my parents and family. That book was written solely for family reading and enjoyment. My latest book, “A Mexican Twilight”, was written for purpose of dramatizing the true and complete life-long journey of my parents and other immigrants to the United States in search of a better life. Both of my books include important historic data relative to early Mexican immigration, and their assimilation with American cultureWhere the status of the Mexican immigrant in America is concerned, it is not my purpose nor intent to dilute or glorify their unique, but unfortunate circumstances in the United States. Instead, my only intent is to document the reality of their existence and their dream of a better life. Personally, I view all immigrants in America, whether legal or illegal, as our duty and obligation to openly and legally deal with their dire existence in a compassionate and humanitarian way. History has recorded much bigotry, racism, and discrimination in our country – all of it unnecessary and undeserving, but nevertheless, painful. Many of my readers, including immigrants from countries other than Mexico, have expressed their dislike of the attitude of bigots and would very much like to see a greater respect and acceptance of their life among us. Since the publication of “A Mexican Twilight”, I have gladly donated many books to our schools and libraries and other non-profit historical associations. I have become involved with the Latinos Presentes! Project, an agency dedicated to demonstrating the presence and the contributions of the Hispanic community. This is a project of the Hispanic Resource Center of the Tulsa-City, County library, and in cooperation with Oklahoma University of Tulsa, Oklahoma State University, the Tulsa Community College, and professor Rodger Randle who is with the University of Oklahoma Center for Studies of Democracy and culture."
Meet the Author: "I, Cecil Gomez, am a native son of Oklahoma, born in the little town of Sapulpa, five miles south of Tulsa, Oklahoma. I am the 2nd offspring of Juan and Edelia Gomez’s twelve children. I was raised in the little town of West Tulsa in a forlorn barrio of other Mexican immigrants – all railroad workers – none of whom could speak English. Our little colony of eleven families, called the Y, was comprised of two-room shacks and was completely surrounded by railroad tracks. I attended the Catholic schools of St. Catherine and Holy Family High School. When I enrolled in school at the age of seven, I could not speak English. At the age of eight, I became bilingual and soon thereafter, I became an interpreter for many Mexican families, assisting them in business and personal matters requiring English attention.I served three years in the United States Navy in the Aleutian Islands during World War II. I am married to my wonderful wife Josephine and have four beautiful children – eight grandchildren and two great grandchildren. On returning home from the war, I built my parents a new 7-room home away from the “Y” into a dignified residential part of town. Also, I enrolled in Oklahoma School of Accountancy in Tulsa, and graduated with a BCS. Bachelor of Commercial Science Degree. Pursuing my accounting profession, I later established a very successful accounting Practice. In 1992, I sold my practice and retired. In 1996, I wrote my first book entitled “Mama and Papa’s Twelve Children and the Y, a documentation of the life and times of my parents and family. That book was written solely for family reading and enjoyment. My latest book, “A Mexican Twilight”, was written for purpose of dramatizing the true and complete life-long journey of my parents and other immigrants to the United States in search of a better life. Both of my books include important historic data relative to early Mexican immigration, and their assimilation with American cultureWhere the status of the Mexican immigrant in America is concerned, it is not my purpose nor intent to dilute or glorify their unique, but unfortunate circumstances in the United States. Instead, my only intent is to document the reality of their existence and their dream of a better life. Personally, I view all immigrants in America, whether legal or illegal, as our duty and obligation to openly and legally deal with their dire existence in a compassionate and humanitarian way. History has recorded much bigotry, racism, and discrimination in our country – all of it unnecessary and undeserving, but nevertheless, painful. Many of my readers, including immigrants from countries other than Mexico, have expressed their dislike of the attitude of bigots and would very much like to see a greater respect and acceptance of their life among us. Since the publication of “A Mexican Twilight”, I have gladly donated many books to our schools and libraries and other non-profit historical associations. I have become involved with the Latinos Presentes! Project, an agency dedicated to demonstrating the presence and the contributions of the Hispanic community. This is a project of the Hispanic Resource Center of the Tulsa-City, County library, and in cooperation with Oklahoma University of Tulsa, Oklahoma State University, the Tulsa Community College, and professor Rodger Randle who is with the University of Oklahoma Center for Studies of Democracy and culture."
West Tulsa Oklahoma 1939 Before and After The Greatest Little American Town That Once Was
8.5x11"perfect bound color cover (softbound)358 pages
ISBN 0-944619-90-8/978-0-944619-90-2
Contact: carrie@gregathcompany.comSand Springs, Oklahoma author Cecil Gomez is near to the release of his third book. "West Tulsa, Oklahoma 1939, Before and After" is a historical novel about the early days in a small town on the west bank of the Arkansas River in the shadow of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Cecil explores life and times of the community through the eyes of early residents as they share stories of places that dotted the landscape. Their recollections, like the book’s cover, are gradually fading away. He captures the memories of actual events as they affected individuals and families in an easy reading text. He has collected some wonderful photos from original sources for first time publication and posted them with others from the outstanding Beryl Ford Collection in the hands of the Rotary Club of Tulsa. You will want to have this book on your shelf if you have lived in West Tulsa or the Southwest Tulsa area.
You will probably be interested, even if you lived on the east bank of the river and looked west at times, wondering what it was like living in the heart of Historic Route 66, alongside the Frisco/BNSF Cherokee Railroad Yard, between the refineries, and at the west end of the 11th Street Bridge the City of Tulsa dedicated as the Cyrus Avery Bridge in his honor.
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