Julieta Bustamante Portillo, Class of 1953
Community Leader and Volunteer

Mrs. Portillo attended Safford Elementary and Junior High and, as a Tucson High student, was involved in Club Cervantes, GAA, National Honor Society, Girls League, intramural tennis, and the modeling club. She attended the U of A and Pima Community College, trained at Manpower, and completed the YWCA Women on the Move Leadership Training course. Julieta worked as a Visiting Homemaker for the Pima County Welfare Department and held several titles with TUSD such as teacher’s aide in its first bilingual program, health clerk, Spanish lay consultant, secretary, office manager, assistant to the District translator, receptionist for the personnel department and administrative secretary. She was an administrative assistant to the Editor and Managing Editor of Arizona Daily Star from 1985 until her retirement in 2003. Julieta began her volunteer service at the tender age of 8 when she wrapped War Bond stamps. She continues her volunteer duties as a reservations coordinator for Southwestern Mission Research Center Kino Missions tours and as a board member of the Tucson High Badger Foundation. She founded the Badger Foundation’s La Tiendita to sell Tucson High souvenirs and memorabilia to help raise funds to support the students at Tucson High. Julieta is a member of the Hispanic Professional Action Committee (HPAC) (board member from 1990-1996; treasurer from 1990-1994) and currently sits on the boards of Club Duette (social/charitable club), Tucson Educational Office Professionals (first Hispanic president in 1979), Arizona Educational Office Professionals (first Hispanic president in 1986), and National Association of Educational Office Professionals. She is the registrar for the Tucson High Class of 1953 and was named the Mickey Mouse Club’s first Hispanic Mardi Gras Queen (1945). Other awards Julieta received include HPAC Service Award, Best of Pima Alumni Achievement Award, League of Latin American Citizens (LULAC) Community Service Award (1997 and 2001) and Mujer Award, U of A Hispanic Alumni Club Citizen Award, U of A Alumni Association Centennial Award, Concerned Media Professional Women Who Built Tucson Award, and the Tucson Badger Foundation Pillar Award.