ANNISTON ARMY DEPOT, Ala. -- Mark Leyva's family was in the southwestern United States long before it was the United States.

"According to family records, we've been in Texas since it was Mexico," said Leyva, adding that, after Texas became its own country, his ancestors stayed when others went south.

Though he is a long way from home, separated by more than 700 miles from his closest geographic relatives, Leyva still holds close to many of the principles he grew up with.

He is still a devout Catholic and he traces his work ethic back through familial lines. But his favorite method of preserving family tradition is to cook for friends.

"The camaraderie is important," said Leyva.

He is also an active member of several Hispanic organizations, including the Hispanic Interest Coalition of Alabama, which is headquartered in Birmingham.

Leyva's path to Alabama is, to a degree, a credit to his family as well. After being taught by his grandparents and other relatives to shoot while growing up in Pecos, Texas, he developed an interest in hunting, even teaching hunters' education classes in New Mexico during high school.

Following his high school graduation, Leyva went to college in New Mexico for one year, considering becoming a teacher.

He was the second member of his extended family to attend college, the first in his immediate family.

A year into his education, he learned about a school in Oklahoma which taught gun-smithing.

With his love of weapons, he jumped on the opportunity and was soon attending Murray State in Tishomingo, Okla.

Two years later, in 2004, he had an associates degree and, a few months after that, a job at Anniston Army Depot.

He began his career here as a small arms repairer and soon worked his way up to a leader position, supervisory role and, finally, into his current job as a production controller for small arms.