How much do you know about the history of Hispanic and Latino culture and community in Rockford?
In recognition of National Hispanic Heritage Month, the Rockford Register Star has partnered with La Onda, a newly-formed nonprofit organization, to help share and celebrate the impact of Hispanic and Latino people, businesses and organizations in and around the Rockford area.
National Hispanic Heritage Month is recognized each year from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15. Visit rrstar.com or the Rockford Register Star newspaper each day to read about the people and places that make up Rockford’s Latino community.
This week, we share biographies of remarkable Latino leaders who made historical strides in Rockford. It is both an honor and a challenge to encapsulate the contributions of only a few incredible individuals from the community in a single week.
Teophelo “Tuffy” Quiñonez was a veteran, a businessman and a dedicated community servant. Quiñonez was the first Latino elected to the Winnebago County Board in the 1970s. He used his voice and political savvy to help people.