Fred Galves

Fred was born and raised in Pueblo—a place that shaped his identity, values, and lifelong dedication to public service. He is a proud graduate of District 60 schools, having attended elementary, middle, and high school right here in this community. His roots run deep. His mother was raised at the bottom of “Goat Hill.” His family lived in “The Blocks” before eventually moving to Pueblo’s Southside. Fred graduated from South High School—a milestone achievement in his family, as neither his mother nor his brother graduated high school.

Fred’s early life wasn’t easy. When he was just five years old, his parents divorced, and his mother raised three children on her own. Fred, the youngest, grew up watching his mother work tirelessly to keep the family afloat. She was a salesclerk at the downtown “Fashion Bar,” then later at “Dillard’s” in the Pueblo Mall. To make ends meet, she often took on second jobs—working nights at “Boston Potato Chips,”  or babysitting. Fred’s family, at various times, depended on government assistance programs, food stamps, and the free lunch program at school. But through it all, there was no shortage of pride, work ethic, and love.

Fred’s story is really the story of Pueblo. His extended family—railroad yard workers, Steel Mill employees, union electricians, carpenters, and packing house workers—reflect the hardworking backbone of this city. It’s this upbringing that shaped Fred’s values, his resilience, and his deep empathy for the struggles and aspirations of everyday Puebloans.

In school, Fred found hope and opportunity through academics and athletics (football and track). A defining moment in his youth came through a Vocational Graphic Arts Program at South High. There, he learned printing and earned an apprenticeship at “Speed-E-Print” in the Union Depot—a hands-on experience that fueled his sense of purpose and possibility. These opportunities, paired with the invaluable mentorship from his teachers, coaches, and counselors, lit a spark in Fred that still burns today.

Fred never forgot where he came from. And now, after building a distinguished career as a law professor, legal scholar, and partner in a Pueblo-based law firm, he’s ready to give back to the city that gave him so much.

But Pueblo faces real challenges. Our poverty and crime rates are among the highest in Colorado. And while we have some outstanding educators and success stories in District 60, we also have deeply rooted issues in our schools that require urgent attention, bold leadership, and unwavering compassion. That’s why Fred is stepping up—to serve the very District that shaped him.

Fred brings a unique and powerful combination of lived experience, legal and educational expertise, and a lifetime of public service. He deeply understands what it means to struggle, to persevere, and to succeed. He’s lived the hardships many students face—and he’s lived the hope, too. That makes him not only a relatable role model, but a rare and necessary voice on the District 60 School Board.

Fred will champion our schools with the same relentless spirit that helped him overcome the odds. He believes in the brilliance and potential of Pueblo’s youth, and he knows—firsthand—what’s possible when a student has even just one advocate who believes in them.

Representation matters. Students deserve to see themselves in their leaders—not just in appearance, but in shared experiences, shared neighborhoods, shared obstacles, and shared dreams. Fred offers that connection, combined with wisdom, fairness, and a fierce dedication to the future of Pueblo.

Fred has spent his entire life preparing for this moment. He’s ready to serve. He’s ready to lead. And he’s ready to fight for our kids… our schools… and our future.