Today the Pima County Board of Supervisors named the Mission Branch of the Pima County Public Library after my best friend Richard Elias. Richard had been a member of the Board since 2002, and over the years, he remained a very strong supporter of libraries. He passed away suddenly on March 28 of this year. From this day forward, the Mission branch will be known as the Richard Elias Mission Library.

A proclamation was drawn up in his honor and read by Supervisor Ramon Valadez, current chair of the Board.

County Administrator Chuck Huckleberry wrote the following memorandum about the renaming:

Richard’s daughter Luz spoke, as did Mayor Regina Romero, who read the proclamation that U.S. Congressman Raul Grijalva wrote and read before the U.S. Congress shortly after Richard died.

Also on hand were Richard’s assistant Keith Bagwell, Tucson City Council members Lane Santa Cruz and Richard Fimbres, Richard’s brother Albert, TUSD Board Member Adelita Grijalva, and Arizona House member Andres Cano, among others.

Supervisor Betty Villegas also read a statement on my behalf that I submitted to her beforehand. I was very honored to be included in this ceremonious occasion. I know Richard would’ve been quite thrilled that a library was named after him.

As Richard would always say, “Resist, much love…