Neal Pearson was raised in Florida and joined the military during the Korean war. After the war, he worked for the CIA and Department of State. Pearson attended Georgetown University as well as the University of Florida for his graduate degrees in foreign affairs and political science. He obtained his PhD from the University of Florida in political science with a focus on Latin America. He arrived at Texas Tech University in 1969 and belong to various civil rights organizations, including LULAC. Pearson also contacted the department of justice in regards to segregation within Lubbock public schools.

Daniel Urbina Sanchez grew up between Lubbock, Texas and Garden City, Kansas. Starting in 1968, Sanchez’s family moved permanently to Lubbock. He graduated from Lubbock High School and Texas Tech University. In the 2000, Sanchez began participating in such organizations as Las Fiestas Del Llano, which is an organization focused on celebrating Mexican national holidays. He is currently an oral historian for Texas Tech University’s Southwest Collection. At Texas Tech University, Sanchez became a leader of the Latino faculty and staff. Sanchez also founded Citizens United in Discourse Against Discrimination, CUIDAD, which led rallies within Lubbock and participated in protests in the Texas State Capitol as the legislature considered racists-anti immigration bills.