Interview with Guillermo Olea

Authors

Guillermo Olea
California State University, Monterey Bay

Files

Identifier

OleaGuillermo_2008_CRP

Description

Guillermo “Bill” Olea is a second generation Mexican. Both of his parents are from Sonora, Mexico. Mr. Olea’s father worked in Goodyear’s Rubber Company in Los Angeles, Railroad in Texas, and Mining in Sonora, Mexico. Also, they work in agriculture as well in the Salina, Valley. After having problems with the union and the Goodyear’s company he left to Mexico to look for a partner. He met his partner in Sonora, next time he migrated with his wife. The migration was relatively easy, just writing their name in a paper. Mr. Olea’s family consists of 3 siblings. His grandfather was a great hunter and grandmother a midwife. When he was a young boy his family would go to Mexico for two weeks to spend time with extended family in Sonora. Mr. Olea’s father after transferred to Salinas he decided to stay here, he really liked the climate and location. Mr. Olea attended Salinas High School and left to enlist in the Army. Until then he assumed his name was “Billy” it was there that he discovers his actual name was Guillermo or memo for short. While station in Mississippi for the first time he experiences discrimination. At age twenty-two he was considered a veteran, he was discharge and started looking for a job. He was hired in the Salinas police department and he made his way through to retired as a lieutenant. He was the first Salinas police officer station in Chinatown. He retains very vividly images of Chinatown, memories (stories) and experiences while working there.

Interview Date

10-19-2009

Interviewer

David Reay; Gerardo G. Zenteno Mena

Geographic Coverage

Salinas (Calif.)

Subjects

Chinatown (Salinas, Calif.); Mexican American families; Sonora (Mexico : State); Police patrol; Cultural pluralism; Seasonal Farm Laborers Program

Type

Moving Image

Genre

Oral histories

Digital Format

video/mp4

Language

eng

Digital Collection

Chinatown Renewal Project

Repository

Archives & Special Collections of California State University, Monterey Bay

Disclaimer

These oral histories express the personal views, memories, and opinions of the interviewee. They do not represent the policy or views of California State University, Monterey Bay.

Recommended Citation

Olea, Guillermo and California State University, Monterey Bay, "Interview with Guillermo Olea" (2009). Chinatown Renewal Project. 31.
https://digitalcommons.csumb.edu/ohcma_chinatown/31