Spotlight on Frank del Olmo
from the Latino Writers & Jouranlists textbook

I chose to personally interview my subjects in the Latino Writers & Journalist to best capture the spark that makes them inspirational to readers, which is the point of any biography. I wanted to gain a glimpse into the foundation that molded them. In this way the biographical essays establish a commonality with readers and hopefully inspires and encourages them to seek out and unearth their own unique gifts.

One of my favorite essays was about a man named Frank del Olmo, a journalist at the LA Times for over thirty years. Raised by a single mother, Frank consistently sought to be the best he could be with self-respect,inner courage, and a belief in his dreams. Frankxs mentor was the pioneering journalist Ruben Salazar. I was in awe when I heard that upon the untimely death of Salazar, at the Chicano Moritorium, Frank relinquished a masters scholarship at Colombia to become the lone Latino reporter at the LA Times to cover the Chicano civil rights movement. Always one to create cohesiveness, Frank co-led the founding of the California News Media Association (CCMNA) and the National Association of Hispanic Journalist (NAHJ). The list of Latino journalists he helped up the ladder toward success is innumerable. He was not only a giant at work, but also in his personal life. With great courage and honesty, Frank wrote about Christmases with his autistic son, making him the the only journalist of national stature to write regularly about autism for nearly a decade. Frank del Olmo crossed in 2004, and yet his wife Magdelena Beltran del Olmo was courageous enough to grant me a very lengthy and insightful interview. In this way, Frank continues to inspire others as a man who lived a life of honor and integrity.

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