The U-T San Diego presented a special Lifetime Achievement award to Ofie Escobedo of Lola's 7-Up Mexican Market & Deli at the fourth annual San Diego Latino Champions Awards, held last month in Coronado.
The award celebrated Escobedo's active role in the community and the impact she has made.
Frank Urtasun, regional vice president of external relations for San Diego Gas & Electric, which sponsored the event, introduced Escobedo and presented her with the award.
Urtasun said Escobedo is a "chispa" (Spanish for "spark") that is recognized throughout North County, and by officials at the local, state and federal level for her dedication to Carlsbad's Barrio.
"What she has done is she's continued to recognize that there is a need to recognize the barrio and that there's a need to keep that history alive and to respect that it is where much of the area started from," Urtasun said. "It's a real honor to recognize her for the work she has done. She's such an inspiration for me and for others."
Escobedo, who returned to the barrio after a successful career in the aerospace industry that lasted about 30 years, said she was humbled by the honor.
"My passion has always been the Barrio of Carlsbad and the people that settled it… It's an area steeped in culture and history. The people who settled it were people coming from Mexico during the revolution who were getting away from the fighting,"Escobedo said. "I left for 30 years and when I came back I saw there was a big need for the barrio to be recognized."
The U-T named Lola's as its Business of the Year at the inaugural edition of the Latino Champion Awards in 2012.
The award celebrated Escobedo's active role in the community and the impact she has made.
Frank Urtasun, regional vice president of external relations for San Diego Gas & Electric, which sponsored the event, introduced Escobedo and presented her with the award.
Urtasun said Escobedo is a "chispa" (Spanish for "spark") that is recognized throughout North County, and by officials at the local, state and federal level for her dedication to Carlsbad's Barrio.
"What she has done is she's continued to recognize that there is a need to recognize the barrio and that there's a need to keep that history alive and to respect that it is where much of the area started from," Urtasun said. "It's a real honor to recognize her for the work she has done. She's such an inspiration for me and for others."
Escobedo, who returned to the barrio after a successful career in the aerospace industry that lasted about 30 years, said she was humbled by the honor.
"My passion has always been the Barrio of Carlsbad and the people that settled it… It's an area steeped in culture and history. The people who settled it were people coming from Mexico during the revolution who were getting away from the fighting,"Escobedo said. "I left for 30 years and when I came back I saw there was a big need for the barrio to be recognized."
The U-T named Lola's as its Business of the Year at the inaugural edition of the Latino Champion Awards in 2012.