© Latinas in History 2008

During the Great Depression, when Lucy Acosta was six years of age, her family moved to El Paso, Texas, where she was raised and educated. In 1945 she graduated from the International Business College, and by 1957 was actively involved in forming the Ladies’ Council No. 335 for the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC). When Acosta became the first woman to be appointed civil service commissioner in El Paso, her career combined two areas of commitment: public service and community volunteerism. She was a member of the Parent Teacher Association of St. Joseph's Catholic Parish, the United Way , and She held seats on the board of directors of multiple city and county agencies. Active in voter registration drives, Acosta worked towards enfranchising the Mexican American community. In 1963, and again in 1973, she was selected Outstanding LULAC National Woman of the Year and Outstanding LULAC Woman for the State of Texas and for the City of El Paso District No. 4.