AUSTIN, Texas — The name Cesar Chavez is present all over Texas, but what do you know of the man behind it?

Mexican-American Cesar Chavez was born on March 31, 1927 outside of Yuma, Arizona. Before his death in 1993, he was a prominent union leader and labor organizer.

Chavez founded the National Farm Workers Association in 1962. His union joined with the Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee in its first strike against grape growers in California, and the two organizations later merged to become the United Farm Workers.

In the summer of 1966, he visited Austin in support of South Texas agricultural workers who marched from the Rio Grande Valley to the Texas Capitol, demanding fair wages. The group had been walking for over a month and a half before reaching San Antonio on Aug. 27, and eventually, Austin on Sept. 5. The entire 490-mile journey was done on foot.

READ MORE ABOUT THE MARCH HERE

The street formerly known as First Street, which runs from MoPac to U.S. 183, was renamed in 1993 to honor the union organizer and Hispanic rights activist when he died.

The University of Texas also honored the activist with a statue — located at West Mall on a site between Battle Hall and the West Mall Office Building in 2007.

In 2014, former U.S. President Barack Obama proclaimed March 31 as César Chávez Day.

His motto ,“Si se puede!” (Yes, it can be done!) was coined in the early 1970s.