Mario Obledo, civil rights activist was 78 *

Obledo, a co-founder of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund and of the Southwest Voter Registration Education Project, is sometimes called the "Godfather of the Latino Movement." He was Gov. Jerry Brown's health and welfare secretary from 1975 to 1982. He died in Sacramento of a heart attack. At the time of his death he was president of the National Coalition of Hispanic Organizations. AP, KPCC News

Brown blogs: "He was an extraordinary person - compassionate, thoughtful and wise."