Octavio & Mary Ruelas

Octavio & Mary Ruelas  were inducted into the Clovis Hall of Fame in 2008 for their contribution to culture. In 1953 he sold all his family's belongings, gathered his wife and three children and at exactly 12:15pm the courageously crossed the Tijuana-U.S. border. The family flew to Fresno where Octavio began working for the Santa Fe Railroad. Despite two years of hard work on the railroad, Octavio and his family were sent back to Mexico. However, his employer in the U.S., Mr. Virgil Durando, was so impressed with Octavio's character and work ethic that he arranged the family to return as legal residents in 1956.