Salvador Esparza

Sal was married to Sobeyda Tobias Esparza for 57 years. He leaves behind 5 children and 8 grandchildren.

Sal was born on January 20, 1937 in Houston, Texas and graduated from Jeff Davis High School – Class of '56. He attended Texas A&M University where he studied Business Administration, the University of Houston, focusing on Transportation and Foreign Trade, and University of Chicago, where he studied Traffic Management.

Sal was a loving family man, a successful entrepreneur and an exemplary leader. Community service was his passion. His lifelong concern was for education and business opportunities of Hispanics. His countless community activities included serving as Chairman of the Board of Fiestas Patrias (30+ years); Founder and former Chairman of the Board of the Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (10+ years); Member of the Houston Hispanic Scouting Committee; Co-founder and Member of the Houston Hispanic Forum (25 years); and Co-founder of the Jefferson Davis Hispanic Alumni Association (20+ years). He was selected to serve on the Harris County Housing Finance Corporation and served as Vice President for 20+ years. He was nominated to the Gulf Coast Workforce Development Board of Directors, where he served for 5+ years.

In his early years, Sal was named White House Delegate from the State of Texas and a Delegate to the Small Business Conference in Washington, D.C. by the Carter Administration.

Sal served as a mentor to numerous small businesses and young people, helping guide them toward success. His door was always open to those who called on him for assistance and he touched countless lives while constantly engaging his colleagues in numerous volunteer efforts. He helped raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for scholarships. He pioneered first-time homebuyer programs in the local minority community, which allowed hundreds of families to be able to purchase their first homes.

More than 40 years of vigorous action in the entrepreneurial environment gave Sal a deep appreciation for the value of education. To this end, he always spoke on behalf of his community and worked with stakeholders and elected officials at all levels to help guide efforts for improvement. His messages were always filled with positivism and hope.

Sal was highly recognized for his extraordinary community service and leadership, and received countless awards from organizations including Fiestas Patrias, Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Houston Minority Supplier Development Council, Jefferson Davis High School, and the Tejano Center for Community Concerns.

Since 1980, Sal founded and operated Sal Esparza Inc., a major commercial landscape and grounds maintenance company. With 4 decades of experience in commercial and government contract management, Sal's professional achievements include winning and managing numerous multi-million-dollar contracts. Working his way from project manager to president and owner of a successful corporation, Sal was proud of his business and civic accomplishments, continually raising the bar of excellence and never ceasing to give back to the community he loved.

Sal is survived by his wife, Sobeya Tobias Esparza; his children Seleste Esparza, Rene & Bianca Esparza, Angela & Scott Canady, Natalie Ramirez, and Ann & Tony Vazquez; and grandchildren Marisa and Gabriel Vazquez, Miguel and Isabel Esparza, Gillian and Aidan Ramirez, and Zachary and Hannah Canady. Sal was preceded in death by his parents Willie Esparza, Jr., and Anita Sanchez Enriquez and Adolfo E. Delgado.

Funeral services will take place on March 10 and 11, 2015 at Forest Park Lawndale Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, Sal would be most honored by making donations to Ripley House Community Center or the Jefferson Davis Hispanic Alumni Association. Information will be available through the funeral home at (713) 928-5141.

Donations may be sent to:

Jefferson Davis Hispanic Alumni Assoc. (Scholarship Fund) which he co-founded

c/o Sylvia Zepeda, Treasurer, 1107 Lindale St. Houston, TX 77022

https://jeffdavisalumni.wordpress.com/2015/02/28/funeral-services-for-sal-esparza/

or Ripley House Community Center, 4410 Navigation Blvd, Houston, TX 77011