Anthony Hudson

Beaming with pride, Rosemarie Gomez stood tall as a new street sign — etched in bold gold and bright colors bearing her name and that of her late husband, Jesse Gomez Sr. — was unveiled at the corner of East 138th Street and Grand Boulevard.

The sign represents more than a street name; it symbolizes the legacy of two local trailblazers who helped shape East Chicago’s identity and pride, especially within the city’s Hispanic community.

Describing the Gomezes as a "power couple" hardly does them justice.

Jesse Gomez Sr., born in East Chicago in 1920, made history in 1963 when he was elected Indiana’s first Hispanic city councilman. He served the community for 16 years, advocating for civil rights, local families and underrepresented residents. After his death in 1979, his

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