By José Donis
Al Día en América
This is the story of Peter Villegas—a story about resilience and the ways in which we are all interconnected. Sometimes, all it takes is a small leap of faith to give ourselves a chance. The smallest decisions in our lives can lead us to places we never imagined and, in the process, shape our future.
As Muhammad Ali once said, “Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee. The hands can’t hit what the eyes can’t see.” Faith, too, is often blind. And unless we believe in ourselves and trust the wind created by our own wings, we may never discover that it can carry us to unexpected places—where our journey can help create meaningful change for the good.
Peter Villegas grew up learning two fundamental lessons: work hard and never remain silent in the face of injustice. The youngest of seven brothers and the son of Mexican immigrants, his story begins in Victorville, California, a small city about 90 miles from Los Angeles, where his father, Manuel Villegas, arrived from Sonora, Mexico, in search of a better life.
“We grew up in a predominantly Latino community, on the other side of the railroad tracks,” Villegas recalls. “Later, we moved to Apple Valley, a mostly white community. In the 1960s and 1970s, speaking Spanish in school could get you into trouble. My parents were simply trying to protect us from the discrimination of that era.”
From an early age, Villegas understood what it meant to be different. In Apple Valley, he was one of only a few Latinos, an experience that forced him to develop confidence and resilience. Sports played a central role in his upbringing, and in a family where boxing was part of daily life, he found discipline, identity, and a figure who would shape his worldview forever: Muhammad Ali.
His first memory of the legendary champion was watching the historic Thrilla in Manila bout against Joe Frazier. But Villegas’ admiration went far beyond the ring. “Ali wasn’t just the greatest boxer,” he says. “He was a man of principle. He was willing to sacrifice titles, money, and fame to stand up for what he believed was right.”
That example stayed with him throughout his life. Villegas admits he was not a perfect kid and got into his share of fights, but those experiences also marked the beginning of his willingness to stand up for others. “I started defending people who were being bullied, speaking out when something wasn’t right. I learned to be comfortable being uncomfortable.”
Unlike many corporate leaders, Peter Villegas did not attend college. Nevertheless, he built a distinguished professional career. He spent 20 years at JPMorgan Chase, later became President of Latino Affairs at Coca-Cola, and currently serves as co-chair of Actum. At the same time, he has been a strong advocate for education, serving on university boards such as UCLA and Notre Dame, and mentoring Hispanic students at Florida State University and UC Irvine.
“I believe deeply in education,” Villegas says. “Education is not just a four-year degree. It is a lifelong responsibility.”
He credits his success to the blue-collar work ethic instilled by his parents and the enduring inspiration of Muhammad Ali. “My parents had a working-class mentality, and I applied that ethic to the corporate world. Ali taught me that I could be whoever I wanted to be—and that if I got knocked down, I had to get back up.”
That courage to speak up followed him even when it carried professional risk. While working at Washington Mutual, Villegas served on a political action committee where he was the only Latino member in Colorado. When the group discussed political donations, he insisted on supporting Ken Salazar alongside Pete Coors, basing his argument on leadership and facts rather than comfort or consensus. Salazar later won the election and went on to serve as U.S. Secretary of the Interior and U.S. Ambassador to Mexico.
“Being willing to speak on behalf of my community has been one of the most meaningful experiences of my life,” Villegas says.
That conviction was evident even in his early twenties. During a casual conversation about boxing with friends, Villegas named Muhammad Ali as the greatest fighter of all time, despite sensing discomfort from others in the group. “In moments like that,” he recalls, “you have seconds to decide who you are.”
His admiration for Ali even shaped his family life. He named his daughter Alessandra so he could call her Ali. “When she asked why I named her after a Muslim African American boxer, I told her, ‘One day, you’ll understand.’”
That understanding eventually took on historic significance.
The path that led Villegas to help secure a U.S. postage stamp honoring Muhammad Ali began with a simple, unexpected encounter. While working on events for the U.S. Conference of Mayors in Los Angeles, he shared a taxi with a man he assumed was a mayor—who turned out to be Greg Fischer, the mayor of Louisville at the time. That brief ride became a lasting friendship and, years later, led to Villegas joining the board of the Muhammad Ali Center.
“If we hadn’t shared that cab that day, none of this might have happened,” Villegas reflects.
The pivotal moment came when Lonnie Ali, Muhammad Ali’s wife, visited Villegas’ home. Surrounded by photographs of Ali and postage stamps honoring figures such as Roberto Clemente and César Chávez, the question arose naturally: why did Muhammad Ali not yet have his own U.S. postage stamp?
From that moment, the effort began—an effort that would culminate in one of the most symbolic tributes to the Champ’s global legacy.
“That a son of immigrants helped initiate this process fills me with pride,” Villegas says. “Especially today, when immigrants are often attacked and stigmatized.”
His own family story underscores that message. His father raised seven sons—professionals across law, construction, telecommunications, transportation, and executive leadership—each contributing to the country that gave them opportunity.
“I hope my story helps counter the negative narrative about immigrants,” Villegas concludes. “As Muhammad Ali once said, we are all ‘paying the rent’ while we are here on Earth. Immigrants do that too—through hard work, leadership, and dignity.”