American Latino Accomplishments
Top 5 -- Lesser-known Hispanic-American Accomplishments
5. José Salas
At the 1924 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, Salas became the first Hispanic named to the U.S. Olympic team. He was a boxer.
4. Evelyn Rivera
A zoologist, Rivera performed research on cancer and the biology of tumors, which garnered her the UNESCO Award from the International Cell Research Organization.
3. Luis Walter Alvarez
Alvarez was a busy man. The physicist was the first to develop the theory in 1980 that the extinction of the dinosaurs was the effect of a giant meteor crash. In 1943, he joined the Manhattan Project to develop the first atomic bomb and in 1968, he won the Nobel Peace Prize in physics for his work in the development of bubble chambers for the detection and identification of subatomic particles.
2. Mario Molina
In 1995, Molina, of MIT, shared the Nobel Peace Prize in chemistry for research that led to an international ban of chemicals that are believed to be destroying the planet’s ozone layer.
1. Cleto Rodriguez
Most people do not know this San Marcos native. He is one of 39 Hispanics to be given the Medal of Honor – one of thousands of Hispanics to serve in the armed services dating back to the Civil War.
Source: Collin College