AV Business, School Board Trustee, and Civic Service
Arturo Vasquez and Company, CPA
Following in his uncles' footsteps as a business owner, Vasquez opened a bookkeeping business, in June 1950, as "Arturo Vasquez, Bookkeeping, Tax Service, Business Reports, and Notary Public." In 1953, Vasquez became a CPA, and renamed his business, "Arturo Vasquez and Company, CPA."
Vasquez's bookkeeping and tax firm continued to thrive, and he added an auditing department. In the 1980s, Vasquez dominated in non-profit business organizational audits. His firm was the first Hispanic CPA firm to audit the City of Corpus Christi. His other accounts included Nueces County, Del Mar College, Corpus Christi ISD, surrounding school districts, appraisal districts, and Hispanic non-profit organizations. He also audited commercial banks, a radio station, and television station.
At that time, there were four primary accounting firms in Corpus Christi: Touche Ross & Company; Peat, Marwick & Company; Arthur Andersen, and the fourth accounting firm was Arturo Vasquez and Company, CPA. Vasquez was known as the "Hispanic Godfather of Auditing" by the young Corpus Christi Hispanic accountants.
Arturo maintained his firm for 38 years before closing his business on July 1988. He continued to work as an accounting consultant until 1993 when he fully retired. Vasquez was a businessman for 43 years.
Arturo Vasquez poses for a photo at work talking to a client, circa 1952.
Arturo poses for photo taking a break from playing golf with friends, circa 1952.
School Board Trustee and Civic Service
Vasquez participated in the Corpus Christi community for educational and Mexican American civil rights issues. He served as a Corpus Christi School Board Trustee from 1952 to 1976. This time period included the contentious desegregation and school busing issues during the mid-1960s and 1970s. Many times, Vasquez was the lone dissenting voice against some of the racially charged voices on the board.
Vasquez’s energy and dedication were unending. He was the first Corpus Christian to be a member of the Texas Education Agency, Accreditation Board. He served as a board member for the Corpus Christi Chamber of Commerce; Driscoll Foundation Children’s Hospital; Corpus Christi Economic Development Corporation; Nueces County Hospital District; Corpus Christi Guidance Center - MHMR, as a liaison to CCISD; Paisano Girl Scout Council. He was a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants; Corpus Christi Chapter of C. P. A’s; Texas Society of C. P. A.; Knights of Columbus Council 1202, 4th Degree; Order of Alhambra, Caravan, Baza 78, UT Texas Exes, and many other organizations. He was also Post Commander of the American Legion, Post 248.
Arturo Vasquez's re-election poster for Position 5, School Board Trustee, Corpus Christi Independent School District (CCISD), 1970.
Arturo Vasquez and CCISD School Board Trustees. Dr. James Albright, Marsha Darlington, Jack McQueen, Glen Huston, Dr. Cornell Barnard, Arturo Vasquez, and Franklin Bass, circa 1972.
CCISD School Board Trustees, Arturo Vasquez and Arnoldo Lerma, in front of a Corpus Christi Independent School District map, circa early 1950s.
Arturo Vasquez and CCISD School Board Trustees. Vasquez sits next to Superintendent Dana Williams, facing the camera. Franklin Bass and Dr. Cornell Barnard turn to look at the camera, circa 1967.
Arturo Vasquez and CCISD School Board Trustees. Dr. William Morris, B.F. Harrison, Ray Edson, Tom Browne, Arturo Vasquez, Jack Ryan, and Fred Sanders sitting at table, circa 1958.
A plaque for the Distinguished Service Award from the Texas Association of School Boards to Arturo Vasquez, 1976.
Arturo Vasquez, handing his daughter Valerie, her high school diploma.
Arturo Vasquez, handing his daughter Nadine, her high school diploma.