The Importance of Not Giving Up

Bob Artis was born and raised in a rural farming community in Southeast Missouri, known as the Bootheel. He was an above-average student who was actively involved with various activities like the 4H program (head, heart, hands, and health). A program that teaches boys and girls new skills through hands-on projects, where he won a trip to Washington D.C. These skills have helped him throughout his life. His school was segregated, and used hand-down books that were given to the school that he attended. However, the teachers were very supportive and dedicated to making him and other students succeed. They spent time with the students working to ensure the students had a future where they could compete with others. Due to the hard work of these teachers, we became doctors, academicians, lawyers, chemists, and other professional and highly skilled individuals from our community, despite the obstacles faced by the students.

Bob also attended RIT (Rochester Institute of Technology) as a part-time student, which typically takes less than 12 credit hours a semester in college, compared to a full-time student who takes 12 or more. 

Mr. Vincent was Bob’s Vocational Agriculture teacher, who would teach him ways to be successful and help him with various tasks. He would do this by providing him with life advice, frequently telling him things like “if you do a good deed to someone, don’t look for a good deed in return, do a good deed from the heart.” Mr. Vincent’s advice has influenced and aided Bob throughout his life, contributing to the person that he is today. Bob has remembered him after all this time, showing the effect of being an influential figure on someone’s life.

Bob enlisted in the military after graduating from high school in Missouri. At the young age of 21, he was a technician in Vietnam, working before the war started to build up. Incoming soldiers who were entering the country were briefed on what to expect, and exiting soldiers were debriefed on what had happened there. Bob ended up befriending another soldier. This soldier asked Bob if he would like to stay in his tent because he was heading out of town, and Bob agreed. That night, the Vietcong (Vietnamese Communists) hit the base camp, where he slept to laying waste to the camp. This moment helped to define him by allowing him to realize how fortunate he was.

Instead of reenlisting in the military again for 6 years, Bob went to RIT for computer science because he was interested in this field. Eventually, he decided to drop out, but he believed that this was the correct thing to do, as life gave him more than if he hadn’t dropped out of college. Dropping out allowed him to pursue many new opportunities. It opened up paths he never thought of, giving him chances in new careers. 

 Bob pursued many new jobs with these newfound paths. He was an account executive for a major publishing firm in Washington, D.C. An account executive manages and builds relationships. As a tech rep in Thailand for the Department of Defense, he assisted military customers. Bob also worked as a 'search consultant' for over 35 years in the past. He interviewed and recruited candidates for companies. He is currently a Rotarian, where he volunteers to make our communities and the world a better place. Rotary International is a service organization. and they helped people by providing fresh water wells in underdeveloped countries.

Bob’s wife and kids kept him focused and motivated, keeping him on the right path throughout his life. They cared for him and wanted him to exceed his potential, allowing him to be who he is today. Whenever he strayed from his goal, they would aid him by helping him focus on the object at hand.

Nowadays, Bob has a variety of diverse hobbies. He enjoys gardening and has raised a diverse range of crops, such as okra, collard greens, corn, beets, and a variety of other vegetables. Bob has hosted people in his home from all over the world and keeps miniature flags of the places that they are from. He also has flags in his yard of where his sons have lived. In his free time, he crochets, plays the bass, and ice fishes. He enjoys cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling in the wintertime.

Bob’s story shows that you should learn from your mistakes and grow no matter your age. Focusing and sticking to the plan is advice that he believes will take you far in life. He believes that you should be compassionate, fair, and understanding. In addition, he believes that when life gets hard, you should work harder and not give up.

This mindset served him well in the corporate world. Accepting an entry-level position at General Motors, he worked his way up the corporate ladder. A 33-year career in management with General Motors took him around the globe. Living in Mexico, Italy, China, and several European countries, he cultivated a deep appreciation and understanding of different cultures. These experiences shaped the way he looked at the world, fostering a global worldview.

Despite success in the corporate arena and exposure to disparate cultures, Casimiro yearned for something more. Recognizing a need in the Hispanic community, he found his calling. When the opportunity presented itself, Casimiro seized it. In 2009, he was asked to serve on the Erie County Cultural Arts Advisory Board, learning first-hand the importance of the cultural arts sector. Recognizing a lack of Hispanic representation, in 2010 he founded the Hispanic Heritage Council of Western New York Inc. to promote the area’s tourism, arts, culture, and Hispanic heritage.

In 2012, this organization, in collaboration with the Buffalo History Museum and the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library, began a history project presenting oral repositories that contained fascinating spoken stories and exhibits about local Hispanic heritage, history, and culture. They also worked with the City of Buffalo Common Council to create and designate the Niagara Street Corridor, the Hispanic Heritage District in West Buffalo. Today much of the local Hispanic history is depicted on murals, parapets, way finding, and interpretive signage in the heart of this community. With his passion and commitment plans are underway to build the first Upstate New York Hispanic Heritage Cultural Institute to preserve the community’s history and celebrate its culture. The organization also helps those with Hispanic heritage feel more connected to their roots, sharing their culture with the community at large.

Casimiro has always believed in the importance of taking advantage of opportunities. Young people must possess this trait if they hope to become tomorrow’s leaders and make positive changes in society. Casimiro has devoted his life to service and social justice. But his work is not done. He intends to dedicate the rest of his life to preserving his heritage and encouraging the younger generation to become strong, passionate leaders.