Frances Rios
Member at Large

Frances is a direct descendant of Leather Jacket Soldier, Feliciano Rios. For generations, the Rios family intermarried with the indigenous people of the Acjachemen Nation.  The Acjachemen Nation flourished in Southern California for thousands of years before the Spanish influx. 

Louisa Rios was my grandmother.  She was Acjachemen Indian.  She was the matriarch of San Juan Capistrano when she died. 

Maria Josefa Grijalva Yorba (1766-1830) was my great-great-great-grandmother. She was married to Jose Antonio Yorba. He came with the Portola Expedition in 1769 as a sergeant with Catalan volunteers.  His son, Teodosio Yorba was my great=great grandfather and his daughter, Presentacion Yorba, was my great-grandmother. 

I grew up in San Juan Capistrano.  The oldest street in Orange County was named after my family, Los Rios Street in San Juan Capistrano.   

I perform Spanish Songs of Old California every year in May at Heritage Historical Park in Lake Forest.  

For the last 15 years and I continue volunteering for the Orange County Children’s Book Festival at Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa. 

 In 2009 – I received the Picerne Foundation grant (one-year grant) and I taught piano and singing to children at Bowers Museum and Women’s Transitional Living Center.  

December 1, 2012 – Performance of “Early California Music and the Rios and Yorba Families at Southern California Genealogical Society Library In Burbank.  

June 28, 2013 – I received State Certificate Recognition for serving the Orange County community – signed by Louis Correa 

October 11, 2014 – I received the Certificate of Appreciation from The Society of Hispanic Historical and Ancestral Research for samples of the rich heritage of California secular music from the time when California was part of Mexico. 

October 24, 2015 – I received the International Hall of Fame Humanitarian Educator Award. 

October 24, 2015 – I received the Certificate of Congressional Recognition-Education Advocate from Loretta Sanchez. 

October 24, 2015 – I received the Certificate of Recognition Educator Award from the City of Riverside signed by William P. Bailey, Mayor. 

October 24, 2015 – I received the Certificate of Recognition Educator Award from the City of Santa Ana signed by Miguel A. Pulido, Mayor. 

October 24, 2015 – I received the Certificate of Recognition Educator Award from the City of Anaheim signed by Tom Tait, Mayor.