Draft:José María Valencia Orduña

José María Valencia Orduña (February 14, 1891– January 23, 1985) He was a precursor of the foundational movement of the municipality of Doctor Mora, Guanajuato, chief of the Civil Guards in the Congregation of Charcas, mayor of San José Iturbide, local deputy in the Congress of the State of Guanajuato, and mayor of Doctor Mora, among other positions.

First Political Actions

In 1918, the region was shaken by highwaymen and bands of thieves under the command of Saturnino Cedillo, who would come to the town to loot stores and homes, taking goods, animals, and in some cases, women from the population. After several raids, José María Valencia Orduña organized the people of the town for their defense.

The Cristero War

On March 24, 1929, Palm Sunday, Cristero rebels led by General Manuel Frías decided to attack the Congregation of Charcas (the former name of what is now the town of Doctor Mora). However, they encountered the locals organized and armed. The main skirmish took place in the public square, between the Town Hall and the main Parish, with the townspeople strategically positioned in the church towers and on the rooftops of the houses surrounding the plaza. The battle began at 5:00 a.m. and lasted until noon, when the rebels withdrew fearing the arrival of military reinforcements. The defense consisted of 30 armed residents, forming the civil defense, among whom Don Ismael Valencia Ramírez, the only son of Don José María, recalls the following individuals: Remedios Alvarado, Marcial Amador, Consuelo Basaldúa, Samuel Basaldúa, Jesús Conde, Jesús Domínguez, Mauro Estrada, Juan García, Dolores Hernández, José López, Bartolo Lugo, Juan Lugo, Cipriano Martínez, Isaac Martínez, Genaro Méndez, Herculano Méndez, Felipe Pérez, Samuel Pérez, Donato Reséndiz, Apolinar Ríos, Daniel Ríos, Eufemio Salinas, Antonio Valencia, and Bernardo Valencia.

The Founding Movement

In 1933, while serving as the substitute deputy for District XV in the Congress of Guanajuato, he achieved the construction of the "Melchor Ortega" dam, named in honor of the state governor, and the urban primary school "General Lázaro Cárdenas," named in recognition of the then-presidential candidate, who laid the first stone. In 1935, now serving as a full deputy in the XXXV State Legislature, he succeeded in having the State Congress and Governor Melchor Ortega authorize the separation of the Congregation of Charcas from the municipality of San José Iturbide and elevate it to the same status as the latter. However, political instability caused by Calles' departure from the country and the subsequent purge carried out by the Cardenista movement led to the revocation of Charcas' Free Municipality status in 1939, returning it to its previous status. Once again, a popular representation led by Don José María Valencia raised the issue before state and federal authorities, managing to recover the lost status, and on August 7, 1949, the area was officially established as the youngest municipality in the state of Guanajuato, under the name "Free Municipality of Doctor Mora."

Work For The Community

In 1951, without official representation but supported by key and progressive local figures, he succeeded in bringing electricity to the municipal seat and the main communities. From 1958 to 1960, while serving as mayor, he renovated the municipal presidency building and managed to have the project for the first deep well for the extraction of drinking water approved for the municipal seat. Similarly, his efforts with the federal government and the state governor, Dr. Jesús Rodríguez Gaona, led to the construction of the road that now connects the municipal seat with the Mexico-Piedras Negras highway (currently Federal Highway No. 57, Querétaro - San Luis Potosí).

Last Days

Dedicated to commerce from his store located beside the church and across from the municipal presidency, he passed away on January 23, 1985.

Honors

The first chronicler of the municipality, Bernardo Valencia Orduña, in his monograph of the municipality, published on June 30, 1966, identifies the benefactors of the town of Doctor Mora, placing Agustín González de Cossio in first place and José María Valencia Orduña in second and last place, highlighting his altruistic and civic work in favor of the municipality. Today, a kindergarten and a street in the town bear the name "José María Valencia Orduña" as recognition of his community service.

Newfoundland Categoría:Nacidos en Doctor Mora Categoría:Políticos de Guanajuato Categoría:Presidentes municipales de San José Iturbide Categoría:Presidentes municipales de Doctor Mora Categoría:Diputados de la XXXV Legislatura de México Categoría:Diputados de la XXXVI Legislatura de México Categoría:Fallecidos en Doctor Mora