Local and federal elected leaders officially renamed a post office in honor of Herman Badillo. NY1's Michael Herzenberg filed the following report.

The Herman Badillo Post Office was unveiled in a ceremony to honor the late Congressman Monday.

Badillo was the first Puerto Rican-born Bronx borough president and U.S. congressman.  

Ruben Diaz Jr., the current Bronx borough president, calls Badillo his hero.

"He was our messenger in D.C., but like the Postal Service, he also delivered on many of the issues that were of importance to this community and communities outside of the South Bronx," Diaz said.

Current office holders say Badillo taught them about politics and taught the world how capable Puerto Ricans can be.  

"That we can graduate number one from law school. That opened up a lot of doors for a lot of people, including for me," said Bronx Rep. Jose Serrano.

Badillo served four terms in the House of Representatives, fighting discrimination and advocating for the poor and education.

"City University has become a much greater institution," said Sen. Charles Schumer. "Because of his courage and his strength, we now have more minorities at City University and higher standards. Both. An amazing accomplishment."

Badillo's own accomplishments were remarkable, in that he was an orphan who moved to the U.S. at age 11 and couldn't speak English.

"You can imagine, with no parents behind you to guide you and no one there to encourage you, and he had it within himself," said Gail Badillo, Herman's widow. "I used to wonder where does he get his own guide and path."

His wife says his own sad and difficult upbringing made him dedicate his life to serving minorities and uplifting the poor.  

"What he would want to have everybody remember, I think it's his work in education. I think it's his work in insisting on standards and abolishing social promotion and knowing that you're not doing any child a favor by handing him a diploma when it doesn't mean anything," Gail Badillo said.

Badillo's admirers say he tirelessly fought against discrimination in part because he knew its evils first hand.

Herman Badillo died in 2014 at the age of 85.