Hispanic activist Flores dies

Friday, April 12, 2002 | 9:22 a.m.

Hispanic rights activist Gil Flores took on many tasks with determination and dedication.

Recently, the member of the Nevada Commission for National and Community Service was too ill from his long battle with cancer to attend a meeting, but Flores was determined to do his duty. He attended the meeting via a telephone hookup to his sick bed. A good thing he did, because it gave the committee a quorum to do its business.

Gilbert Flores, a cofounder of the Nevada Association of Latin Americans and the state's Economic and Human Resource coordinator under Gov. Mike O'Callaghan, died Tuesday at a local hospital. He was 76.

Services for the Las Vegas resident of 42 years will be 10:40 a.m. Monday at the chapel at the Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Boulder City. Nevada Supreme Court Justice Bob Rose, a longtime friend, will officiate.

"Gil was a special man who did everything with zest," said O'Callaghan, executive editor of the Sun. "Gil was a quiet and strong man who was always the first person to volunteer for a tough job that was designed to help others. He faced adversity and problems with grace."

Born May 19, 1925, in East Chicago, Ind., Flores joined the Marines shortly after graduating from high school and saw action at Iwo Jima in 1945. Flores returned home and attended Valparaiso University, majoring in law and economics.

After furthering his education at Chicago's Academy of Fine Arts, he worked as an animator for Walt Disney Studios.

Flores moved to Las Vegas in 1960 and opened Convention Services Unlimited, which installed and dismantled convention exhibits, and At Your Service Inc., an ushering service for convention, sports and special events.

O'Callaghan appointed Flores the coordinator of the state's office of Economic and Human Resources in 1975.

In 1980 Flores founded Consulting Services Unlimited and was responsible for organizing the Nevada International Trade Project that expanded Nevada exports to Mexico.

Among his many civic deeds, Flores was president of the G.I. Forum and Friends of Youth, chairman of the Southern Nevada Drug Abuse Council's Hispanic Education Project and was a member of the Optimists, Footprinters, Police Protective Association, Latin Chamber of Commerce, Variety Club and the Nevada Law Foundation, among others.

Flores is survived by his wife of 20 years, Roberta; a son, Gilbert Flores Jr. of Las Vegas; a daughter, Margaret Flores of Los Angeles; two brothers, Fred Flores of Las Vegas and Richard Flores of East Chicago; and a sister, Irene Perales of Orlando, Fla.