Clemente Jesús González Leal, humility as the main quality

Clemente Jesús González Leal, la humildad como principal cualidad

Clemente Jesús González Leal, a humildade como principal qualidade

Juan Quintana Ceballos

Department of Marxism Leninism. University of Pinar del Rio "Hermanos Saiz Montes de Oca. ORCID: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5444-3729, Email: jquintana@upr.edu.cu

Clemente Jesús González was born on June 22, 1942, in Zapotes Street 318, Santos Suárez, Havana, within a humble family, since he was a child he went to live in Los Palacios, Pinar de Rio. When he finished his primary and secondary studies , he expresses interest in teaching, which already showed in his participation in classes , his collaboration with teachers and his work as a monitor of subjects related to history, science for which he felt a special love and from the beginning it marked his future profession

In 1961, with only 19 years, he participated in the national campaign for literacy with which he began to pursue its vocation for teaching   and in 1962, he graduated as Master Primary. He was president of the history Commission of the revolutionary schools of instruction and between 1964 and 1965 he participated in the realization of historical sketches of the Central Galope in San Juan y Martínez, about the Peasant Movement in Pancho Pérez,   zone of that municipality, and on the eviction of agricultural workers in the area of Puerto Esperanza in the municipality of Viñales. Years later, he participated in the realization of the historical sketch of the province of Pinar del Rio.

He continued his training in 1976 and graduated from High School Teacher in the specialty of History. In 1968 working in the Provincial Directorate of Education, he participated in the International seminar of Technical and Professional Education as a delegate to the event, as well as the I and II National Seminar of of Marxism Leninism professors of the MINED. He was also involved, in the preparation of the curricula of various subjects of the aforementioned teaching. At the same time, he advised to the students from the University of Havana in their pre professional practices in the province, especially in San Andrés de Caiguanabo.

He is the founder of the National Union of Historians of Cuba in Pinar del Rio, being recognized for this condition in 2013 by the president of this organization, the Historian of the City of Pinar del Rio M Sc Juan Carlos Rodriguez Diaz. He was also a member of the historical research team of the Party's Provincial Committee, which granted him recognition in 1998 for the 30th anniversary of its creation.

In 1977 he joined the Pedagogical Institute of Pinar de Rio as Professor of History of the Labor Movement. From his beginnings, he fulfills different teaching and artistic tasks,   in December 1981; he received a recognition from our commander in chief Fidel Castro Ruz, on the 20th anniversary of Literacy, for his participation in this campaign.

As part of its continuous improvement, from the teaching and research point of view, on February 23, 1988 he completed his exercises and receives the title of Doctor of Historical Science in the University of Las Villas, being the first of the Province of Pinar de Rio. He was Annual Prize of the Union of Education, Science and Culture, he received the distinction to the educational work " Raul Ferrer " in 2003 and he was Special Prize of the Minister of Education in 20 0 8 "For having obtained exceptional results in their work".

During the years 2009 and 2010 he collaborates with the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela as a professor in graduates, for this work he received a recognition from the authorities of the Bolivarian Republic and the Educational Cuban Mission. He joined the Research Commission of the Historical issues of the Provincial Committee of the Party, Member of the scientist councils  at Faculty level and of the  Pedagogical sciences "Rafael María de Mendive University" He received the teaching senior category of Professor and special category of consultant teacher in recognition of his outstanding journey in the collaboration and mentoring of master `s  and doctoral theses, as well as coursework and diplomas of the students , in addition to scientific and pedagogical- events of teachers and students .

He directed several research projects related to the History of Cuba, especially those referring to the historical period 1935-1945 and about the History of Pinar del Rio linking its undergraduate and graduate students to this important work.

PhD. Clemente Jesús González Leal was the author of several scientific articles related to the history of Cuba and the revolutionary press and co-author of books on the history of the labor movement in Pinar del Rio

In his work and personal life he cultivated many friendships, but among all his brother stands out from multiple scenarios, PhD. Francisco Romero Ríos who when speaking of Clemente expressed : " PhD. Clemente was my endearing brother, today I remember him as present in everything I do, always by my side supporting each other "

Referring to when they first met, Dr. C. Francisco Romero recalls:"...  We work together in the Provincial Department of Education, I was the principal of the Department of Social Sciences and then of Marxism, and he belonged to the team of Technical and professional Education, there an eternal friendship that not even his death could destroy emerged.

When passing through the Higher Pedagogical Institute after University of Pedagogical Sciences and nowdays Mendive headquarter of the University of Pinar de Rio "Hermanos Saiz Montes de Oca",  Dr.C Francisco Romero narrated: " When Dr. C Clemente Jesus Gonzalez Leal came to the pedagogical school, I had some time working there , once we teamed together and we prepare scientific and pedagogically ,  climbed  teacher  category  , we investigate, we enrolled doctorate at the Central University of Las Villas, we became PhDrs and Then together we presented our request to change the teaching category at the University of Havana, we defend our exercises and receive the category of Titular professors. We tutor thesis together , we taught overcoming and postgraduate courses, we linked to the investigation of the History of the CTC in Pinar del Rio and we were collaborators of this organization in the Province, even presenting papers in national events of this Organization, in addition of being part of the investor team of the Provincial Party . PhD. Clemente was always a convinced revolutionary, defender of the work of the Revolution inside and outside the country. "

About the labor and human life of PhD. Clemente Jesús González Leal, keeps lovely anecdotes his friend the MSc. José Madera Medina, who remembers:

"I met Clemente over there in 1983, when he started working in the Pedagogical, School, he helped me to adapt the University Teaching system, we were partners in the Department of Labor Movement, we consulted systematically, he was a duo in Mm process of joining the Party, despite its category and scientific degree, he  was always a humble and simple man , helped me a lot in my research on the tobacco sector, advised me and then reviewed the book and asked me for a copy. We participated together in the methodological activities, teachers and in the nucleus, he was a man with criteria and always gave his opinion to help in the debates , after the Integration of the Higher Education centers in Pinar del Rio, we found him again in the Department of Marxism - Leninism and History at the University of Pinar of the Rio " Hermanos Saiz Montes de Oca", he never missed any activity, even ill, with his slow and uncertain gait went to all activities and fulfilled the tasks assigned, he was an example of discipline and responsibility, said Madera Medina.

"As a founding member of the National Union of Historians in Pinar del Rio, Clemente always has a privileged place," said   the MSc. Juan Carlos Rodríguez Díaz, Historian of the City of Pinar del Río, President of this organization in the territory, who was first his student and partner later.

"Clemente was always a very measured, thoughtful man, he thought long before giving his opinion, he didn't hurt with his criteria, he always helped, active in all events, participatory, always ready to collaborate and transmit his experiences, he dedicated his life until his last breath to cultivate freedom and to defend the work of the Revolution from its main trench, classroom, the research and teaching of history. In his doctoral thesis and once he graduated, he made an important contribution to the study, knowledge and dissemination of the history of the revolution in power in his first years in Pinar del Rio, every time we remember these stages, that we remember our passage through The Higher Pedagogical Institute, comes the obligatory memory of that simple and humble man who was and continues to be PhD. Clemente Jesús González Leal, Clemente for his classmates and friends" said Juan Carlos.

Clemente, in addition to an excellent professional in teaching and research, was an exemplary father always occupied with the education and welfare of his two children, who are university graduates in the field of health and agricultural science. His sons always remember him present in his studies, in the meetings, in the accomplishment of his tasks.

Humble, laborious and revolutionary until his last days, his work and example continue to accompany us , all his companions and friends remember him with great affection and feel the pride of having met him and shared with him professionally and personally , always present in the activities and historical events, significant dates, in the productive works, in the fraternization activities.

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Copyright (c) Juan Quintana Ceballos