Amadeu Lima is an immigrant so proud of his rights as an
American citizen that he has created a reputation of speaking his
mind to local government throughout the county. And despite his few
years of schooling, he feels strongly about local issues and is not
afraid to voice his opinion in matters such as Hollister’s economic
future, county roads and the sewer moratorium.
Hollister – Amadeu Lima is an immigrant so proud of his rights as an American citizen that he has created a reputation of speaking his mind to local government throughout the county. And despite his few years of schooling, he feels strongly about local issues and is not afraid to voice his opinion in matters such as Hollister’s economic future, county roads and the sewer moratorium.
Lima, who immigrated from Portugal and has called Hollister home for the past 45 years, is a steady presence at Board of Supervisor meetings, where he often exercises his adopted country’s right to freedom of speech by railing against local authorities and questioning many of their actions.
“When I got my citizenship papers, I remember very clearly the judge telling me that I had to apply my new rights to make things right,” said Lima, who has voted in every presidential election since 1964.
The 76-year-old was born on the island of Faial, one of the many that make up the Azores island chain deep in the Atlantic Ocean west of Portugal, and came to San Benito County in 1959 after being sponsored by an aunt and uncle who resided here. The island had frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions and Lima and his young bride, Maria, accepted an offer from President John F. Kennedy to residents of Faial to immigrate to the U.S.
They settled at their relatives’ ranch home on Airline Highway and the 31-year-old Lima went to work in the San Juan Bautista orchards. There, he learned his first words of English, how to drive a truck and most importantly, about the customs of his adopted country.
“Back home, I never saw my wife in man’s clothing, but here women were wearing pants,” he recalled. Lima saw male relatives kiss his wife, dishonorable to both him and her in their native land, but nothing out of the ordinary in the U.S. But despite his initial discomfort with American customs, he grew to understand life in the states and was motivated by the can-do attitude of the nation of immigrants. After working only a few years on local farms, and Maria at the Hollister cannery, the young couple was able to save $7,000. They used the money to buy two cows and some farm equipment and began raising cattle as a side business.
After leaving farming, Lima worked as a caretaker at Bolado Park and in 1970 was offered a job at the Department of Public Works, where he served until his retirement in 1990. In the position, he rose through the ranks to become a foreman of the department, although he never did enjoy bossing people around, he said.
Lima’s involvement in local issues stems from a desire to see a better future for his children and five grandchildren, three of whom live in the area.
Not too long ago, his son, Manuel, who was only six months old when the Limas emigrated from the Azores, moved to Oklahoma because he could not support his family through his work as a general contractor in San Benito County.
Lima was so saddened by Manuel’s move to the Midwest that he took it upon himself to become involved in local politics to encourage Supervisors and Council members to approve projects that would take the future of the county into consideration and stimulate growth.
He says he would like the city to build more houses once the moratorium is lifted and expand sewer facilities to accommodate growth over the next 20 years and ensure something similar does not happen again.
“We are no different here than people in nearby counties…sure we have less people, but we want the same things,” like a chance to own a home and have respect for their elected officials, he said.
“Many people are afraid of politics or they don’t want to be bothered, but this is what this country is about,” he said. “You have to speak the truth and stand up for yourself.”
Karina Ioffee covers education for the Free Lance. Reach her at (831)637-5566 ext. 335 or [email protected]
