Carlos Landa Signs Off Tenure As Consul

A fter serving as Eastern Washington’s honorary Mexican consul for almost half a century, Carlos Landa retired from his post this month, but not his boast.

Landa, who grew up in Mexico City, bragged about Spokane’s beauty, natural resources and people to the folks back home.

He’s never lost that braggadocio.

“Spokane is a wonderful place,” Landa said.

But at age 86, Landa figured it was time to retire.

“After all these years, I resigned. It was getting harder for me to get around,” said Landa, a tall, spry man.

When he first arrived here in 1942, he fell in love with Spokane.

On the wall of his Cooper George apartment hangs an artist’s rendition of the Great Northern Depot with its signature clock tower.

“That was the first building I saw when I arrived here,” Landa said.

His affection for Spokane and his desire to become a diplomat prompted Landa to ask Mexican officials in 1951 to allow him to serve as the region’s honorary consul.

Mexican officials said yes. And after a background check, U.S. Secretary of State Dean Acheson signed Landa’s authorization papers.

“It took nine months. … They had to investigate who the hell I was,” Landa said with a grin.

Honorary consuls receive no money for their post, so Landa understood that his position and duties would be a labor of love. He made his living in real estate and banking.

For 46 years he issued visas to tourists wishing to visit Mexico, helped Mexican immigrants navigate bureaucratic channels, and negotiated international business deals.

In 1956 he arranged the sale of 10,000 seedling apple trees from Wenatchee farmers to farmers in Mexico.

For many years he played a critical role as a liaison between Washington and Mexico. Landa was the only Mexican consul in the state.

At the time of his 1951 appointment, not even Seattle had a Mexican consulate.

“They got a consulate in Seattle 10 years after my appointment,” Landa said.

His father had been a Mexican ambassador to Belgium, Ecuador and other countries, so Landa knew firsthand the job’s requirements.

Landa, a former Mexican citizen, got his first look at the Spokane area when the Mexican government sent him here under scholarship from the U.S. Department of Commerce in 1942.

The scholarship was part of an effort to teach Latin Americans how to fly.

Landa even found his sweetheart here, marrying Spokane native Jean L. Smith in 1943. Smith died 17 years ago.

Landa said he plans to “take it easy” in the coming years and enjoy his four children and seven grandchildren, many of whom attend college in the state.

“I’m real proud to have been able to serve Mexico,” Landa said.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo