PCC Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

By Josephine Gonzales

M. Edmund Vallejo, Ph.D., was the first Hispanic leader as a District 60 education and Colorado Sen. Abel Tapia, a civil engineer, was inducted into the Pueblo Hall of Fame on Friday night in the Fortino Ballroom at Pueblo Community College.

According to the evenings’ speakers, it was a great night to acknowledge Hispanic ancestry and hold tight to dreams.

Since 1991, PCC has held the induction into the Pueblo Hall of Fame with more than 50 recipients. The walls are full of pictures of those awarded in previous years, with many yet to come, said Diane Porter, director of the PCC Foundation.

In their speeches, both recipients, with such grace, were humbled by the honor and never wavered from what brought them both full circle that night – their roots in the Pueblo community.

When asked about the honor, Tapia replied, “I’m elated, it’s something I never aspired to. Look at the wall-- icons of Pueblo. I feel almost unworthy, but you can’t take it away from me.”

Tapia is a product of PCC, including a work-study position in the facilities department. He grew up in Bessemer and, in 1985, founded Abel Engineering Professionals Inc.

Vallejo graciously accepted the award and was recognized by Tapia in his own acceptance speech. Tapia credited Vallejo as being an influential person in his life.

Both men honored their families with great appreciation for their endurance on the way to where they are today.

Tapia and Vallejo gave the greatest honors to their wives. Vallejo asked his wife of nearly 49 years to join him on stage.

Porter gave the introductions to the ceremony, along with the thank you to the many sponsors and guests present.

The ballroom was decorated in lovely white linens and cream napkins. The centerpieces were white snapdragons with the simplest of greenery to assist.

The music was smooth jazz from a Pueblo’s own “Wasabi”, a three-member group with an infectious sound.

While dinner was served, in part by the culinary arts students, the Cinfully Delicious catering crew was also on hand.

Dinner, once the guests were absolved of the Lenten abstinence of meat, consisted of bite size portions of beef, baked salmon, potatoes and asparagus. For dessert chocolate pound cake was on tap with a great cherry topping and cheesecake for a second choice and with that, the induction to the beginning of a new Hispanic history is marked.

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