Basque Oral History Project

Chronicler: Interviewer: Location: Date:	Jose Mari Guerricabeitia Daniel Chertudi Boise, Idaho 10 July 2002

	Jose Mari was born on 1 March 1944 in Munitibar, Bizkaia, to Antonio Guerricabeitia and Felipa Arriaga. One of his earliest memories was helping his father bury bodies in the town's tiny cemetery! Fortunately, most of his chores on the baserri were tamer, and included planting sugar beets and feeding the cows. Jose Mari's father was not a political man, but had to balance farm and family life with service in Franco's army during the civil war. It was not uncommon for soldiers to sleep unnoticed in the family's barn. School was not the most productive part of his young life due to an alcoholic teacher and restrictions on Euskera, but he learned more in seminary after being recruited by wandering priests. When he was 19, Jose Mari went to work in a Bilbao bar for a famous bicycle racer, but he knew he wanted more out of life, and accepted his brother's invitation to work in America. He arrived in Idaho in 1964, and joined his brother with the Highland Sheep Company near Emmett. After his contract had finished and he had received his green card, Jose Mari worked with hay and construction for a few years before becoming a landlord for many area homes; he now owns 100 units! Joe married Mary Lou Murelaga in 1974, and the couple has raised 3 children who danced with the Oinkaris. He involves himself in local Basque activities, but prefers traveling to Euskadi, which he has done many times and hopes to do many more! Jose Mari became a US citizen in 1974, and although a proud American, his Basque identity is still very important to him.
Jose Mari Guerricabeitia	Read the interview summary