Manuel Ramos, an attorney who also has taught Chicano literature courses at Metropolitan State College of Denver, is the author of several crime fiction novels. These novels have garnered critical and popular recognition such as the Colorado Book Award and the Chicano/Latino Literary Award (University of California at Irvine), as well as an Edgar nomination from the Mystery Writers of America. Born in Florence, Colorado, his grandfathers included a coal miner and a veteran of Pancho Villa’s army. His father, a construction worker, and his mother raised Ramos to appreciate education; accordingly, Ramos eventually graduated from Colorado State University, with honor, in 1970, and received his law degree from the University of Colorado in 1973. After a few years in private practice, Ramos accepted a staff attorney position with the Denver legal aid program, and the bulk of his legal career has consisted of providing legal assistance to the indigent. Today, he is the Director of Advocacy for Colorado Legal Services, the statewide legal aid program. Chicano teenager in El Pasos second ward. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Colorado State University Colorado State University is a public land grant institution of higher learning located in Fort Collins, Colorado in the United States. ... 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1970 calendar). ... 1973 (MCMLXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday. ... Colorado Legal Services (CLS) is a non-profit corporation that has assisted persons with low income and seniors in the State of Colorado for over 75 years. ...