About Me
Marisa was born in Mexico City, Mexico and lived in Guadalajara, Jalisco until she immigrated to Houston, Texas in 1942. She graduated from Incarnate Word Academy, graduated from Southwestern Business University, and received the First Pearl Award for exceptional participation from Epsilon Sigma Alpha.
Marisa studied at the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston, Texas for five years where she mastered oils and sculpture. She and her husband established two successful corporations in the petrochemical industry. Marisa played softball and coached little girls’ softball; she helped establish a women’s softball league in south Montgomery County and was president of Suburbia Women’s Softball League.
What brought you to America?
My parents had been invited to a very exclusive new country club in Guadalajara. When they arrived, amid all the splendor of the crystal chandeliers and Viennese waltzes, they were taken to a “great room” and there was the biggest flag my mother had ever seen, with a bug in the center. What she did not know was that it was the Nazi emblem. Thinking the Nazis were now established in Mexico, my father immediately decided he was getting his family out of there and move to America. He gathered all the necessary papers and when we were about to cross the bridge to America, we heard firecrackers. We later learned there had been an attempt on the life a Mexican general and those firecrackers were in fact gunshots. We turned around and spent one last night in Mexico.
What was it like growing up in America as an immigrant?
I grew up in America during World War II. My father and his two brothers were drafted into the U.S. Army, one brother served in Germany and the other in Japan. My father stayed and served stateside because he was the third son to be drafted during wartime overseas. We always had American flags outside our home in our Victory Garden in support of our troops and our family. Among the vegetables in our garden, we made sure that our flags were always upright and in good shape. We dreaded the man on the bicycle who would deliver the Dreaded Telegram with the bad news.
I learned to speak English at the age of 5 and it was quite easy to pick up. As a child, my biggest passion was reading books. I didn’t have a lot of friends back then and so I mostly stayed home and read. When I entered school, I experienced my first act of discrimination.
What were the most important values instilled in you?
My mother taught us to always put God first, to have respect for one another, and to be grateful for living in America. These values have stayed with me forever and I’ve passed them on to the next generation.
What are the challenges preventing Hispanics from remembering their conservative roots?
Many Hispanics in America were raised to believe they were not smart or capable of progress in their lives. In some cases, parents did not teach their children to be proud of who they were or where they came from, and prevented their children from reaching their potential. Parents wanted their children to assimilate directly into American culture, rejecting their roots.
Additionally, society presented prejudices. The challenge is we need to learn to not allow what others think of us as being more important than what is best. As long as you follow God’s path, you will not fail.
Why did you get involved in the HCMC and what does it mean to you?
As someone who has been very much involved in the Hispanic community, I felt that by way of my experiences, whether it be local, state, or national, that I could be a positive influence and contributor to both the community and the club.
I was very impressed with the people who had joined the HCMC as it was a different group of Hispanics who joined, having fled tyranny in their home countries. They were motivated and had a certain discipline that I admired. This is a new path that Hispanics have taken. It is a different direction, a positive direction that can help bring more conservatives into a march that will lead to preventing the country from being taken over by the enemy.
Accomplishments I’m most proud of:
My life has been dedicated to serving my community, my happy marriage of 55 years, and my son and daughter with accomplishments of their own.
Favorite Quote:
Each morning, I say a prayer, give God the glory, and thank Him for this day. My desire is to make this world a better place. My favorite quote is by Ilka Chase “The only people who never fail are those who never try.”
MARISA RUMMELL – A Life of Service
National Appointments
Small Business Administration (SBA), National Advisory Council (NAC), Washington D.C. – two terms
United States Senate, Republican Conference Task Force on Hispanic Affairs, Washington D.C. – two terms
State and Local
The San Jacinto River Authority, appointed by Gov. Rick Perry, two terms
Inaugural Committee, commissioned by Governor Rick Perry
Montgomery County Precinct #35, Chair
Election Judge, Precinct #35
Delegate to State Conventions, three decades
Delegate Alternate to National Convention, San Diego
Delegate Alternate to National Convention, New York City
Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, The Woodlands, Texas, First Founding Chairman, Chair for three terms
Greater Conroe Latino Chamber of Commerce, Founder and Chairman to date
Hispanic Task Force, member and teacher
Alliance of New Americans, President, one term (still teaching)
Greater Houston Council of Federated Republican Women, Community Outreach, three terms
Republican National Hispanic Assembly (RNHA) – Texas
Republican National Hispanic Assembly, Texas Chairman, three times
Republican National Hispanic Assembly (RNHA) – National
Republican National Hispanic Assembly, Volunteer of the Year 2001
RNHA, Southern Region Director (of over thirteen states, four terms
Republican National Hispanic Assembly, Committeewoman
RNHA, 2nd Vice-Chairman, one term
RNHA Convention Chairman, Washington D.C.
Texas Federation of Republican Women (TFRW)
Texas Federation of Republican Women, member
TFRW, served on numerous committees
TFRW President, three different clubs – Pathfinders RW, Unidas RW, W.A.R.W.
TFRW, Vice-President of Membership, first Latina elected to an executive position
National Federation of Republican Women (NFRW)
Membership, Outreach, Legislative committees
Featured in Republican Woman Magazine with President George W. Bush.
Montgomery County Republican Women (MCRW)
Montgomery County Republican Women, Outreach Chair, three terms
NFRW representative for President B. Izzo
Board of Directors
Salvation Army Advisory Council
Oscar Johnson Jr. Community Center, Advisory Committee
Alliance of New Americans, former Advisory Committee member
Featured Articles
The Courier, Immigration Deal Begins Legal Debate, 05/18/2007
The Courier, Face in the Crowd
The Courier, Hispanic Businesses now have Unified Voice
The Courier, Rummell Invited to attend White House Celebration, 10/05/2006
The Courier, In Modern Times
