On the recordJanuary 20, 2022
Today we honor the life and memory of Manny T. Padilla, a leader in our community and my very, very good friend. Manny served on many boards, commissions, and organizations in Orange County, and he also served 9 years on the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Orange County's Board of Directors. Among his many accomplishments, he was honored as Volunteer of the Year by the University of Georgetown, as well as receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of the State of California. Manny's story started in New Mexico when he was 17. Then his high school principal chose two of the best students in his high school to be part of the Boys State program. Manny was one of those students. He moved to Washington, D.C. later on and attended Georgetown University while he worked for then-Senator Dennis Chavez. Years later he attended law school where he met his wife, Betty, at the same time while working at the Department of Labor. They had four children. And Manny had a very long career in the private sector working for State Farm Insurance. As we celebrate his life, we know his memory will serve as a great example to this next generation.
