About ARTURO VASQUEZ
Arturo Vasquez was born in Laredo, Texas, on December 13, 1924. While attending Martin High School, WWII had begun. After graduation, Vasquez volunteered to be in the Army Air Corps and was assigned to be a nose gunner in a B24 bomber, in the European Theater. After 35 missions, primarily over Germany, he was honorably discharged. He went back to Laredo and applied to attend the University of Texas. He received a degree in accounting in 1949 and moved to Corpus Christi, Texas where his mentor, Dr. Hector P. Garcia, founder of the American GI Forum, lived and worked.
Vasquez was a businessman in Corpus Christi for 43 years, beginning with his bookkeeping company in 1950. In 1953, Vasquez passed the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) tests for the first time, becoming a CPA. He renamed his company, Arturo Vasquez & Company CPA. His company was the first Mexican-American CPA firm in Corpus Christi, and he was the first Mexican-American to join the Texas Society of CPAs in Corpus Christi.
Vasquez was a Corpus Christi ISD school board member for 24 years (1952 - 1976). He served during the desegregation of schools.
On November 8, 2003, Vasquez was honored by the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy, for maintaining his CPA license for 50 years. He held his license from August 1953 to December 2009. He died three months later.
Vasquez was proud of being a CPA. He always signed CPA after his name. Vasquez was known to be an honest, ethical man and was knowledgeable about tax laws. His record with the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy reflects his ethical values with an honorable record.
Vasquez served on countless civic organizations, including:
- American Institute of Certified Public Accountants;
- Corpus Christi Chapter of CPAs;
- Texas Society of CPAs;
- First in Corpus Christi to be a member of the Texas Education Agency Accreditation Board;
- First National Executive Secretary of American GI Forum;
- National Treasury of LULAC;
- Post Commander of the American Legion, Post 248;
- Board member of the Corpus Christi Chamber of Commerce;
- Board member of the Driscoll Foundation Children’s Hospital;
- Corpus Christi Economic Development Corporation;
- Board member of the Nueces County Hospital District;
- CCISD liaison to Corpus Christi Guidance Center - MHMR;
- Paisano Girl Scout Council;
- Knights of Columbus Council 1202, 4th Degree;
- Order of Alhambra, Caravan, Baza 78 (a Catholic organization);
- University of Texas, Texas Exes.
Vasquez and his wife, Marie Leal Vasquez, were married for 56 years and had seven children, 14 grandchildren, and 13 great-grandchildren.
Our mission - Supporting Education and those in need
Our mission at Arturo Vasquez, CPA Memorial Foundation, is to strive to uplift and empower our community by donating to educational institutions for scholarships or gifts and providing financial assistance for necessities. We believe in creating opportunities for those in need and making a lasting impact.
Donations will be based on the four pillars of Arturo Vasquez's life: Veteran, Certified Public Accountant, Corpus Christi School Board member, and family man.
Arturo Vasquez, CPA Memorial Foundation is classified as a "public charity" for federal tax purposes under Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
"Education is something nobody can take away from you. It brings respect (and) better salaries."
Arturo Vasquez, CPA from 1952-1976
Arturo Vasquez, CPA Memorial Foundation Inc
Eloisa Dowiat, CCEF, Marie Leal Vasquez, Dr. Roland Hernandez, Superitendent, NVH, Susana V. Majors
Our organization is committed to supporting education by providing scholarships and resources to students in need. We believe that education is the key to breaking the cycle of poverty and creating a brighter future for all. Through our partnerships with Corpus Christi ISD, Corpus Christi Education Foundation, Texas A&M Corpus Christi, and Del Mar College, we are working to ensure that students have the opportunity to achieve their full potential.
Our Story in Pictures: Arturo Vasquez, CPA Memorial Foundation Inc's Journey to Make a Difference
Arturo Vasquez, CPA Memorial Foundation Inc
Words of Wisdom
"Keep your thoughts positive because your thoughts become your words.
Keep your words positive, because your words become your behavior.
Keep your behavior positive because your behavior becomes your habits.
Keep your habits positive, because your habits become your values.
Keep your values positive because your values become your destiny."
- Gandhi -
advisory directors
Nathan Schoggins
Nathan Schoggins is the grandson of Arturo and Marie Vasquez and the son of Terry and Valerie Schoggins. The family settled in Houston, Texas, where Nathan graduated from high school.
After graduating in 2006, Nathan decided to join the United States Marine Corps. He was stationed at Camp LeJeune in North Carolina, with the 2nd Battalion, 6th Marines, as a Radio Operator. He was deployed overseas twice. Once with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, and then with Operation Enduring Freedom, in Marjah, Afghanistan. He was ranked as a Sergeant before leaving the military in 2011.
Nathan looked for a new challenge by pursuing a college degree. He worked full-time and attended evening classes at the University of Saint Thomas in Houston. He graduated with a BBA in Finance and Economics and an MBA in Accounting and Strategy. His dedication to his studies earned him high honors at graduation.
Nathan’s greatest achievement was meeting his wife, Lupita, while they were in college. The two married in 2018 and now have two adorable children, son Santiago, and daughter Camila. Since family life is important to Nathan, he and Lupita live in a house where their family lives nearby. Along with family gatherings, Nathan and Lupita enjoy working out and watching their children grow.
Despite efforts to follow in his grandfather’s footsteps as a CPA, Finance and Strategy were his true calling. Nathan has a successful career as a Financial and Strategic Business Partner, providing services across various industries and companies.
advisory director
Daniel Martinez,III
Daniel Martinez, III is the grandson of Arturo and Marie Leal Vasquez and the son of Daniel Jr. and Deborah Martinez. He spent his early years moving as his father’s work in the petroleum industry moved the family to Anchorage, Alaska, and Lima, Peru. The family returned to Texas and settled in Cypress where Daniel graduated from Cy-Fair High School in 2008.
After graduation, Daniel followed in his cousin Nathan’s footsteps by enlisting in the United States Marine Corps where he served four years as an Infantry Rifleman with India Company, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division in Camp Pendleton, California. Daniel rose to the rank of Corporal and served as a Fireteam Leader prior to his discharge.
During the first year of his service, he married his high school sweetheart Marissa saying that was the best decision of his life. During their marriage, Daniel was deployed twice. In 2010, he was deployed to the Garmsir District of Helmand Province, Afghanistan then in 2011, he was deployed again as part of the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit aboard the USS Makin Island, a helicopter amphibious assault ship.
After his term of duty expired in 2012, Daniel took his first post-military civilian job working as a Pipeline Field Operator for the company Enbridge, a Canadian Energy Transportation Company in Kilgore, Texas. While working full-time, he attended night school at Kilgore College to complete his basic courses. Daniel and Marissa then moved to Lubbock, Texas, so he could attend Texas Tech University. In 2018, Daniel graduated from Texas Tech University Summa Cum Laude in Petroleum Engineering with a minor in Geology. His wife Marissa was inspired to pursue her own degree and would walk across the same stage and graduate Magna Cum Laude with a degree in Human Sciences two years later.
After graduation, Daniel accepted a job at Occidental Petroleum (Oxy) where he works as a Reservoir Engineer fulfilling his goal of following in his father's footsteps. Daniel and Marissa have a handsome son, Daniel Martinez IV, and a beautiful daughter, Mallory.
In his free time, Daniel enjoys spending time with his family, lifting weights, and duck hunting.
Inspired by the way his grandfather, Arturo Vasquez Sr., gave back to the community, Daniel has volunteered since 2018 as an online Math tutor for Literacy Lubbock, a non-profit organization that assists adults pursuing their GED.
