Leo with his granddaughters Adrian Ruby and Sandina.

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The murals were directed by Leo Tanguma and assisted by Cheryl Detwiler and Leticia Tanguma​ with help from numerous community artists, volunteers and students 1992 - 1995.​

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         My father,  Leo Tanguma, the child of impoverished Mexican American and Chicano migrants, worked as a child laborer in the farms of America during the 1940s. He joined the Marines, and later, after being honorably discharged for being only 15 years old, he joined the Army.

         He raised my two brothers, Carlos and Emiliano, and me, Leticia, by himself, after our mother, Ruby, died on April 27, 1983, from a long struggle with cancer. In the last five years, my father survived cancer himself, and is now painting much smaller paintings.

         Artist Cheryl Detwiler and I were his main mural assistants. Cheryl, an incredible artist specializing in oil portraits, raised five children, four sons and a daughter, alone.

         I also raised my daughter alone. Both Cheryl and I survived domestic violence. Actually, while we painted the DIA murals together, we talked about our personal experiences. Her will to stand up against interpersonal violence inspired me to do the same. I will always admire her strength and determination for escaping her abusive husband in order to raise her children without the threat of violence. 

         As for myself, after the completion of the DIA murals in 1995, I worked for almost ten years at Denver crisis centers as an educator and self-defense instructor. I also taught art in after-school programs. 

         The lives of my father, Cheryl, and I are very similar to millions of other Americans; we have struggled within our families, we work hard at our jobs, we make mistakes, we have successes, and we have dreams and aspirations. Our main priorities are our children. We care for our community as demonstrated not only by painting at local schools with students, but also by volunteering at places like the local food bank and community theater.

          In 1992, my father responded to a Call for Entry from the City and County of Denver.  For those not familiar with the term, “Call for Entry,” it is simply a contest that is standard in the art and business industries.  My father has always created works of social commentary. He submitted a sketch of his idea, and he became one of several artists from around the country chosen to create art for the new airport.