Guanajuato, Mexico is known as the birthplace of Mexican independence, a state rich in history, art, and culture. Among its many cities, León stands out for its high-quality leather goods—handmade shoes, belts, jackets, and more. It is also home to the delicious guacamayas, a sandwich of crispy pork rinds bathed in salsa. But beyond its industry and gastronomy, León is the hometown of a man who left an indelible mark on our West Liberty community: José Zacarias.
José was born in León, Guanajuato, on May 25, 1966. He was more than a city council member—he was a father, a businessman, a volunteer, and a scholar. At the age of 29, he made the difficult decision to leave Mexico, despite having just graduated as a lawyer from the prestigious Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), the largest university in Latin America. Low wages in his home country limited his opportunities. General Motors, which operates a factory in León, paid workers only $9 a day.
Hoping for a better future, José arrived in the Midwest with the misconception that, since it was in the north, it would be mountainous. Instead, he found a flat, cold, and small town that was nothing like his homeland. He ended up in the area because his sister and five nephews lived in the Quad Cities. Soon after, he arrived in West Liberty with just $20 in his pocket, a small bag of clothes, and a single pair of shoes. A woman named Zuleika offered him a small room to rent while he took a job at Louis Rich (now West Liberty Foods), where he worked for ten years. During this time, he got married and had three children.
Factory work was physically grueling, especially for a scholar who had never worked with his hands. He came home with swollen fingers and an exhaustion that ran deep. After a decade of laboring in a fast-paced, demanding job, he decided to follow in the footsteps of his maternal grandfather, Antonio Rodríguez, and became a barber. He attended barber school and purchased a building in downtown West Liberty (the one with the “You Belong Here” artwork) to open his barbershop. But after three years, he had to give up his business. “My kids were growing, and they needed health insurance,” he explained. He returned to factory work, first at General Mills and later at Procter & Gamble, where he worked for 14 years.
As time passed, José became a U.S. citizen and decided to give back to his community. His involvement began with Centro Unidos, a space where Latinos gathered to discuss local issues. He was deeply concerned that despite the high Latino population in West Liberty, they had no representation in city government. Determined to change that, he ran for office and was elected as both a city council and school board member. He served two terms on the city council and also contributed to the Board of Public Housing, LULAC, and the local food pantry, where he volunteered three hours per week. Through LULAC, he helped distribute 360 boxes of food to families in need a in just one year alone.
José found joy in serving local government because he saw democracy in action. However, he also worried about a declining democracy at the state and national levels. He spoke candidly about concerns such as political attacks on teachers, efforts to control school curricula, and the criminalization of protests. Despite these challenges, he remained hopeful, encouraging others to get involved. “Local government allows more space for dialogue, and your actions have a direct and immediate impact on the lives of the people you serve,” he once said.
His advice for future leaders was clear: get informed, question everything, read, and ask yourselves where progress is happening. “Educate yourselves and participate because the system does affect you,” he urged. He also emphasized the importance of identity. “You need to know who you are to know where you are going and how that will shape the leader you become.” His message was simple but powerful: “Organize, unionize, and make noise—because together, we can create change.”
José was deeply passionate about addressing food insecurity. I experienced this firsthand one winter day when I called him for help. A family had been laid off and had no food and toiletries in their home—not even shampoo. The food pantry was closed that day, but José did not hesitate. He leveraged his connections to ensure the family received food and even found coats to keep them warm. He didn’t have to do any of that—but he did, because that was the kind of person he was.
Whether or not you agreed with his politics, there is no denying that José Zacarias made a lasting impact on our community. He was a trailblazer who believed in progress, justice, and the power of collective action. He leaves behind a legacy of service, compassion, and advocacy. As he once said, the community is better than how he found it because of the seeds that have been planted. It is now up to all of us to continue planting those seeds and building upon the work he started. Rest in power, José. Your impact will not be forgotten.