SANGER, CA – Today, Senator Melissa Hurtado (D-Sanger) helped to honor Sanger Native Tom Flores after his induction into the NFL Pro Hall of Fame on August 8, 2021:

“Tom Flores and his accomplishments are an inspiration to all of us here in Sanger,” said Senator Hurtado. “Tom Flores is the son of Mexican immigrant parents—he’s the product of farmworkers who sacrificed to give their children a shot at the American Dream. His outstanding career in the NFL has shown many small-town Latino students and athletes, regardless of their background or upbringing, that they too can accomplish great things with hard work and perseverance. He has been an inspiration to me throughout my upbringing and I know he will be for many more generations to come.”

Tom Flores was inducted into the National Football League Pro Hall of Fame on August 8, 2021. He was the first Hispanic NFL Coach in the league’s history, and the first minority to win a Super Bowl—winning twice—with the Oakland Raiders and the Los Angeles Raiders. With the Seattle Seahawks, he was the first Latino to be general manager and team president.

Tom was the first person in National Football League history to win the Super Bowl as a player, assistant coach and head coach (Mike Ditka is the only other person to hold that record.) He holds 83 wins with the Raiders, which is the second-most in National Football League Franchise history, and his coaching record is second only to John Madden, holding a lifetime coaching record of 97-87.

He was honored with the naming of “Tom Flores Boulevard” in his hometown of Sanger, California on September 18, 2021.

Media Contact: Michelle.Sherwood@sen.ca.gov

About Senator Melissa Hurtado

Senator Melissa Hurtado represents a new generation of Latina leaders as the youngest woman ever elected to the California State Senate and a product of immigrant parents. Senator Hurtado represents the 14th Senate District and focuses on rural community issues that often go unheard — access to clean air and water, food insecurity and poverty, inequities in environmental policies, agriculture and access to health care. In July 2020, she was appointed to the national Biden Latino Leadership Committee alongside former Labor Secretary and current Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis – the only two California Latinas on the Committee.

For more information, visit Senator Hurtado’s Website here or find her on Twitter at @Senator_Hurtado

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