Milpitas People and Places:
School Name Stories
Three Educational Sites Named for Historic Milpitas Residents
On Tuesday, May 9, 2017 the Milpitas Unified School District Board of Education voted unanimously to name three educational sites for historic Milpitas residents: Mabel Mattos, former Milpitas Mayor Ben Gross and Josephine Guerrero.
New Milpitas Elementary School on McCandless Drive Named for Mabel Mattos
They voted to name the future elementary school on McCandless Drive for Mabel Mattos. (1923-2013).
Born in Madera, CA, Mabel Mattos grew up in a farming family in the hills east of Milpitas. She was one of the earliest members of the Milpitas Historical Society and one of the most valuable contributors to the knowledge we have today of the events and people of early Milpitas. She was also active in many other groups in the Milpitas community. Mabel’s kindness and interest in sharing all of her knowledge is remembered by all who knew her.
Mabel Mattos Elementary School Dedication on August 7, 2018
On Tuesday, August 7, the Milpitas Unified School District held the ribbon cutting ceremony for the Mabel Mattos Elementary School, the first new school since Milpitas High School was built 48 years ago.
Mabel’s family attended the ceremony: (l-r) her son Jim, granddaughters Sarah and Emily, daughter-in-law Karen, and grandson Jim Jr, with new Mabel Mottos School Principal Jackie Vo-Felbinger second from right. Jim gave a moving talk about his mother Mabel, and the new principal spoke about the bright future for the K-2 students who will be the first classes at the new school.
Milpitas Unified School District and San Jose-Evergreen College Extensions Named for Milpitas Mayor Ben Gross
The Board also voted to name the location of the Milpitas Unified School District and the San Jose-Evergreen College District extension buildings for former Milpitas Mayor Ben Gross, a civil rights and union activist, who became Milpitas’ first black city councilman, and in 1966, California’s first black mayor of a sizeable city. He was also instrumental in the development of the Sunnyhills housing development, the first successful integrated housing development in California.
Tripping Through Time Story:
A Few of Many Notable African-Americans in Milpitas History
Family Resource Center at Robert Randall Elementary School Named for Josephine Guerrero
A third site, the Family Resource Center at the Robert Randall Elementary School, was voted to be named for Josephine Guerrero (1920-2016), a local businesswoman and strong supporter of the Milpitas Library, who was the first assistant postmaster of Milpitas, served on the Planning Commission, was president of the Milpitas Chamber of Commerce, and founded the Milpitas Business and Professional Woman’s Club.