Courtesy U.S. Senate Historical Office

MARTINEZ, Melquiades R. (Mel), a Senator from Florida; born in Sagua La Grande, Cuba, on October 23, 1946; immigrated to the United States in 1962; lived with foster families until reunited with his family in Orlando, Fla., in 1966; J.D., College of Law, Florida State University 1973; practiced law in Orlando, Fla., for twenty-five years; secretary, Department of Housing and Urban Development 2001-2005; elected as a Republican to the U.S. Senate in 2004 and served from January 3, 2005, until his resignation on September 9, 2009.