An Interview with Frances Montes

Date of Birth: April 26, 1940 Place of birth: San Antonio, Texas Arrival in Las Vegas: 1970 Work/Contribution: Community Date of interview: 2001 Interviewed by: Barbara Agonia

Frances “Fran” Montes is a leader in the Southern Nevada Hispanic community. She is the fist woman to serve as president of Hispanics in Politics (HIP) and one of a small number of Hispanic women acknowledged as spokesperson for the diverse Hispanic community in the Las Vegas valley.

Fran was a child of a San Antonio, Texas barrio, one of five daughters raised by a single mother in a very traditional neighborhood. After graduation from high school, she entered the business world as a secretary. Her marriage to Jerry Montes, who was in the Air Force, led her to Europe, where she served as a secretary at bases in Spain and France and, later, as an assistant to the commanding officer at Château roux Air Force Base in France. When Fran and Jerry returned to the United States and were assigned to Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas, she devoted the wealth of her experience in service to her community and family.

She is the Diversity Officer for Bechtel Nevada Corporation, a member of the Latin Chamber of Commerce, a member of the Community Advisory Board of the Women’s Research Institute of Nevada, and one of the earliest members of NALA (Nevada Association of Latin Americans).

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