Art Vasquez – successful entrepreneur, owner of Rancho Vasquez and former Citrus College student – was selected to receive the 2021 Distinguished Alumni Award.
Born in Azusa, Mr. Vasquez is the eldest child of parents Joe and Ernestine Vasquez. Growing up in the 1950s, Mr. Vasquez learned from his grandfather about avocado trees, irrigation practices, fertilizing and everything else required to maintain land. Mr. Vasquez and his brother helped their dad, who had purchased an acre of property across the street from the Foothill Dairy, by picking avocados and selling them in the neighborhood from a red wagon for 10 cents apiece or a dozen for a dollar.
In his teens, Mr. Vasquez began working at a gas station pumping gas, cleaning windshields and performing other basic car repairs. The experience, as well as working at his family's restaurant, taught him how to run a business and treat customers fairly. Following his high school graduation, Mr. Vasquez continued working as a mechanic.
After marrying his wife, Geri, and becoming a father in 1970, Mr. Vasquez was then drafted by the U.S. Army and served at Fort Richardson (now Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson) in Alaska. While serving, he worked as a tactical mechanic and in the civilian motor pool. Upon completing his military service, Mr. Vasquez returned to Southern California, working as a mechanic 60 hours a week and taking automotive technology classes at Citrus College simultaneously.
Mr. Vasquez praised Citrus College's cutting-edge automotive curriculum in the 1970s and its inspirational faculty, such as Terry Smith. Mr. Vasquez recalled not being able to see nearby mountains due to smog, and he felt inspired to clean the air in Southern California. After attending Citrus College, Mr. Vasquez took real estate and business courses at California State University, Los Angeles.
Mr. Vasquez later opened a gas station around 1975 before working several decades in the smog equipment business. This smog company later became Worldwide Environmental Products, which did business throughout the United States and in countries like Canada, China and South Korea.
In the early 2000s, Mr. Vasquez purchased 100-plus acres that contained hundreds of avocado trees. After getting serious about the avocado orchard, Mr. Vasquez began working the land, which is now known as Rancho Vasquez.
Today, the farm is home to approximately 3,700 trees. In addition to selling avocados to restaurants, Rancho Vasquez also sells directly to organic markets and is open to the public during harvest season.
In addition to his accomplishments, Mr. Vasquez has given back to his community by coaching Little League and Pony League for 25 years. He also sat on the Canyon City Foundation Board of Directors.
Mr. Vasquez, who is now a great-grandfather, has five children and lives in Azusa. He and Geri have been married for more than 50 years.
Mr. Vasquez's story was originally featured in the program for the 105th Citrus College Commencement.