Author Cecil Gomez 14507 Gomez Drive     Sand Springs, Oklahoma 74063     918-245-8589 e-mail address   cecilgomez@cox.net
Click here for more about A Mexican Twilight	Limited Edition No longer available	Order Book Now! Retail $35.00 - ISBN 978-0-944619-90-2
Sand Springs, Oklahoma author Cecil Gomez announces the release of his third book. "West Tulsa, Oklahoma 1939, Before and After" a historical novel about the early days in a small town on the west bank of the Arkansas River in the shadow of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Cecil explores life and times of the community through the eyes of early residents as they share stories of places that dotted the landscape. Their recollections, like the book’s cover, are gradually fading away. He captures the memories of actual events as they affected individuals and families in an easy reading text. He has collected some wonderful photos from original sources for first time publication and posted them with others from the outstanding Beryl Ford Collection in the hands of the Rotary Club of Tulsa. You will want to have this book on your shelf if you have lived in West Tulsa or the Southwest Tulsa area. You will probably be interested, even if you lived on the east bank of the river and looked west at times, wondering what it was like living in the heart of Historic Route 66, alongside the Frisco/BNSF Cherokee Railroad Yard, between the refineries, and at the west end of the 11th Street Bridge the City of Tulsa dedicated as the Cyrus Avery Bridge in his honor.  Maybe you or your family has worked for the Cosden Refinery, Texas Refinery, Texaco Refinery, Mid-Continent Refinery, DX Refinery, DX-Sunray Refinery, SUNOCO Refinery, Sinclair Refinery, Sun Oil Company or one of the many other refineries in the Tulsa Area.  All are important to this historical novel.  You may have shopped at one of the many mom and pop groceries along South Quanah Avenue (Old Historic Route 66) as it wound its way through the Tulsa area.   You can order a copy of the book by contacting the author Cecil Gomez at 918-245-8589 or click on "TO ORDER BOOKS" for an order form.  Fill it out and mail it with a check to Cecil Gomez. There is a limited supply of this special book.

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PRESENTAMOS A CECIL GOMEZ
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MEET THE AUTHOR

I, Cecil Gomez, am a native son of Oklahoma, born in the little town of Sapulpa, five miles south of Tulsa, Oklahoma. I am the 2nd offspring of Juan and Edelia Gomez’s twelve children. I was raised in the little town of West Tulsa in a forlorn barrio of other Mexican immigrants – all railroad workers – none of whom could speak English. Our little colony of eleven families, called the Y, was comprised of two-room shacks and was completely surrounded by railroad tracks.

I attended the Catholic schools of St. Catherine and Holy Family High School. When I enrolled in school at the age of seven, I could not speak English. At the age of eight, I became bilingual and soon thereafter, I became an interpreter for many Mexican families, assisting them in business and personal matters requiring English attention.

I served three years in the United States Navy in the Aleutian Islands during World War II. I am married to my wonderful wife Josephine and have four beautiful children – eight grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

On returning home from the war, I built my parents a new 7-room home away from the “Y” into a dignified residential part of town. Also, I enrolled in Oklahoma School of Accountancy in Tulsa, and graduated with a B.C.S. Bachelor of Commercial Science Degree. Pursuing my accounting profession, I later established a very successful accounting Practice. In 1992, I sold my practice and retired.

In 1996, I wrote my first book entitled “Mama and Papa’s Twelve Children and the Y", a documentation of the life and times of my parents and family. That book was written solely for family reading and enjoyment. My latest book, “A Mexican Twilight”, was written for purpose of dramatizing the true and complete life-long journey of my parents and other immigrants to the United States in search of a better life. Both of my books include important historic data relative to early Mexican immigration, and their assimilation with American culture

Where the status of the Mexican immigrant in America is concerned, it is not my purpose nor intent to dilute or glorify their unique, but unfortunate circumstances in the United States. Instead, my only intent is to document the reality of their existence and their dream of a better life. Personally, I view all immigrants in America, whether legal or illegal, as our duty and obligation to openly and legally deal with their dire existence in a compassionate and humanitarian way. History has recorded much bigotry, racism, and discrimination in our country – all of it unnecessary and undeserving, but nevertheless, painful. Many of my readers, including immigrants from countries other than Mexico, have expressed their dislike of the attitude of bigots and would very much like to see a greater respect and acceptance of their life among us.

Since the publication of “A Mexican Twilight”, I have gladly donated many books to our schools and libraries and other non-profit historical associations. I was involved with the the Oklahoma Centennial Celebration's Latinos Presentes! Project, dedicated to demonstrating the presence and the contributions of the Hispanic community. This was a project of the Hispanic Resource Center of the Tulsa-City, County library, Southwest Tulsa Historical Society, and in cooperation with Oklahoma University of Tulsa, Oklahoma State University, the Tulsa Community College, and professor Rodger Randle who is with the University of Oklahoma Center for Studies of Democracy and culture.

My latest book "West Tulsa, Oklahoma 1939 - Before and After" was written after I received numerous requests to expand on the historical information about old West Tulsa, Oklahoma.  Many people who read my first two books found themselves wanting to know more about the early history of the former city, its inhabitants, businesses and churches.  I wrote this book in a historical novel format so readers would have an enjoyable trip back in time, guided by first hand descriptions of places long gone and memories captured in  interviews of living senior residents. The book contains factual information from fading memories, mine included.  Many of the first person interviews were with people in their 80's or older.  Urban renewal took away the old homes and buildings.  Father Time is taking away the memories of the same places. 

Contact Cecil Gomez for additional information


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