Amiga (Fort Worth's own Pauline Valenciano)

By Crystal Perez

September 6, 2013

Pauline Valenciano

In the 1960s, President John F. Kennedy challenged the country; “My fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.”  Among the thousands of Americans who responded to that call to action, service, was Fort Worth's own Pauline Valenciano.  From an early age Pauline was interested in politics.  Born and reared in Fort Worth, the youngest of nine children, Pauline learned early she had to have a strong voice in order to be heard.  When she was a youngster, Pauline says, her father would take her to hear speeches by candidates for public office.  On one momentous occasion, Pauline was fortunate enough to see President Harry S. Truman as he passed through Fort Worth.

Unfortunately not all of Pauline's memories of growing up in Fort Worth are pleasant.  Pauline recalls one of her grade school teachers forbidding anyone to speak Spanish in the classroom.  This same teacher would place a clothespin on her nose when coming near the Mexican-American pupils in class.  She feared breathing “Mexican germs.”  Pauline says she bears no ill will or hatred for the mistreatment and crude and rude stupidity; rather, she says, the episodes became a learning experience.

In the turbulent and idealistic ’60s, Pauline became active in the “Viva Kennedy” clubs and eventually joined President Lyndon B. Johnson's War on Poverty, working in a community action program from 1967 through 1975.  Pauline joined the civil rights struggle for Latinos and was active in the Chicano Movement.

Although politics and public service have long been near and dear to Pauline's heart, she says her proudest accomplishments came while being a wife and mother.  Pauline was Mrs. Joe Franco Valenciano.  Her husband served in the U.S. Army, and while he did, Pauline served in the NCO Wives Club and as a Red Cross volunteer.  While they were serving their country, Joe in the military and Pauline in her civilian roles, the Army postings meant relocating often around the nation.  But eventually, they made their way back home to Fort Worth.

Pauline and Joe had four daughters.  Unfortunately, while the children were young, Pauline was widowed.  As a single mother, she was undaunted by having to rear her children.  Indeed, Pauline says, the experience gave her strength and motivation that served her well later in life, especially as she successfully battled breast cancer.

To date, Pauline remains active as a mother and grandmother and as a community and neighborhood volunteer.  She relishes her civic involvement, whether that means helping with voter registration drives or helping the City of Fort Worth with the annual dieciseis de septiembre celebration.

Pauline has become a living icon and role model of Fort Worth’s history and its contemporary Latino communities.  It’s more than fitting that she be honored by the Tarrant County Democratic Women’s Club on Sept. 28 September 2013.  The TCDWC was for September 28, 1928 and is the oldest Democratic Women’s Club in Tarrant County. The event is from 4-6:30. UNT Health Science Center, Montgomery and Camp Bowie.  Tickets can be obtained by calling

Cindy James at 817 800 6228 or cindybjames@aol.com.