Rio Grande Valley Sector Border Patrol agents interdicted a narcotics smuggling event leading to the third largest methamphetamine seizure, to date, in U.S. Border Patrol history. USCBP Images
Texas Border Business
EDINBURG, Texas – Rio Grande Valley Sector Border Patrol agents interdicted a narcotics smuggling event leading to the third largest methamphetamine seizure, to date, in U.S. Border Patrol history.
On December 8, Falfurrias Border Patrol Station agents at the Falfurrias Checkpoint referred a tractor trailer to the secondary inspection area for an immigration inspection on the driver. The inspection led to agents discovering 1,440 bottles filled with liquid methamphetamine instead of the everyday household cleaning solution as the labels indicated. The narcotics weighed more than 3,000 pounds. The street value of the seized methamphetamine is estimated at nearly $100 million.
“RGV Sector agents work diligently every day to interdict vehicles being used in human and drug smuggling events. This historical seizure is a prime example of our Agents’ efforts to continuously impact and degrade Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCO) exploiting the Rio Grande Valley. I am extremely proud of our Border Patrol Agents and how the interdiction kept these dangerous narcotics out of our communities,” stated RGV Sector Chief Patrol Agent Gloria I. Chavez.
The public is encouraged to take a stand against crime in their communities and to help save lives by reporting suspicious activity at 1-800-863-9382.
Packages containing 183 pounds of cocaine seized by CBP officers at World Trade Bridge.USCBP Image
Texas Border Business
LAREDO, Texas—U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Office of Field Operations (OFO) officers assigned to the World Trade Bridge seized cocaine in two separate incidents that totaled over $3,600,000 in street value.
“Our frontline CBP officers continue to maintain a robust enforcement posture and seized two significant loads of cocaine in the cargo environment,” said Port Director Albert Flores, Laredo Port of Entry. “CBP remains committed to advancing CBP’s priority border security mission while effectively facilitating lawful trade and travel.”
The first seizure occurred on Sunday, Dec. 11 at the World Trade Bridge, when a CBP officer referred a 2014 Freightliner tractor trailer manifesting soft drinks for secondary inspection. Following a canine and non-intrusive inspection system examination, CBP officers discovered a total of 89.33 pounds of alleged cocaine within the trailer. The narcotics had a street value of $1,192,746.
The second seizure occurred on Monday, Dec. 12 at the World Trade Bridge, when a CBP officer referred a 1990 Kenworth tractor trailer manifesting organic agave syrup for secondary inspection. Following a canine and non-intrusive inspection system examination, CBP officers discovered a total of 183.51 pounds of alleged cocaine within the trailer. The narcotics had a street value of $2,450,252.
The narcotics combined had a street value of $3,642,998.
CBP seized the narcotics. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents are investigating the seizures.
Seeing the success of the joint brush team operations, Laughlin knew more drones would mean more illegal migrants would be unable to enter Texas undetected. Texas Military Department Photo
When 1st LT Austin Laughlin started on Operation Lone Star, the mission was daunting. He and his company were responsible for preventing illegal border crossings in a 25-miles stretch along the Rio Grande River in Zapata County. While the county wasn’t known for particularly high traffic, it was known for being undermanned in its vast expanses of thick over growth that provide a perfect route for those travelers who want to remain undetected.
One tactic for finding the clandestine migrants, developed by the Texas Department of Public Safety, was the use of drones in conjunction with groups of elite soldiers from the Texas National Guard, called “brush teams.” The brush teams would use the information provided from the DPS unmanned aircraft equipped with night vision and thermal cameras to locate and arrest trespassing migrants in the unforgiving terrain.
Seeing the success of the joint brush team operations, Laughlin knew more drones would mean more illegal migrants would be unable to enter Texas undetected.
Laughlin quickly developed a plan that would have Texas Guardsmen flying drones as part of Operation Lone Star. He pitched the idea to the commanders on the ground, who immediately saw the value in adding additional brush teams resourced with drones and championed the young lieutenant’s idea to the highest echelons of the agency.
With that the Texas Military Department’s Small Unmanned Aircraft System Program was born. In his new position as the program’s training director, Laughlin said the first class of TMD pilots are set to start training to fly. After completing the FAA’s part 107 training and additional practical training with both TMD and DPS personnel, those Soldiers and Airmen will be able to fly with the agency and as commercial drone pilots in their civilian lives. The new remote aviators will be chosen from within the Texas National Guard’s ranks.
“We are looking for people that are on a State Active Duty mission currently, or want to be,” said Laughlin. “We want people who want to make a difference.”
In response to the increase in illegal border traffic, TMD is preparing to train 45 new drone pilots. While those pilots will initially work directly with DPS, Laughlin said that eventually the drones will be spread out, working independently to expand the number of brush teams across the border.
“It’s important that we are successful on Operation Lone Star,” Laughlin said. “With this program we can better stop the people with nefarious intent from crossing illegally into Texas”
LEFT TO RIGHT: U.S. House of Representatives Henry Cuellar (TX-28), U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX), Tony Gonzales (TX-23), and Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) and and sent a letter urging President Joe Biden to extend the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC’s) Title 42 order beyond the upcoming December 21, 2022 deadline. Image Sources: Cornyn: United States Senate, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons, Cuellar: Eric Connolly; U.S. House Office of Photography, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons, Gonzalez: US House of Representatives/House Creative Services, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons, and Manchin; United States Senate photography studio, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. Bgd. USCBP Image for illustration purposes
Texas Border Business
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Joe Manchin (D-WV) and U.S. House of Representatives Henry Cuellar (TX-28) and Tony Gonzales (TX-23) sent a letter urging President Joe Biden to extend the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC’s) Title 42 order beyond the upcoming December 21, 2022 deadline.
They wrote: “We have a crisis at our southern border. Never before in our nation’s history have we experienced this scope and scale of illegal border crossings, and we remain concerned that your administration has not provided sufficient support or resources to the men and women of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) who are tasked with maintaining border security.”
“We are committed to enacting bipartisan legislation that will allow DHS to effectively implement policies and programs that have been revealed as critical to maintaining operational control over the southern border, and do not involve paroling large numbers of migrants into the United States to undergo months- or years-long processes. These negotiations will take time. In the interim, we urge you to do everything within your power to extend the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC’s) Title 42 order beyond the looming December 21st deadline until Congress can act.”
Background:
In May 2022, DHS Secretary Mayorkas stated that the he was anticipating as many as 18,000 unlawful crossings per day once Title 42 was lifted. Recent court filings show that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is almost completely reliant on Title 42 to control migration from Mexico and the Northern Triangle. The vast majority of Mexicans, Guatemalans, Hondurans, and Salvadorans encountered by U.S. Border Patrol along the border in October 2022 were expelled under Title 42 rather than processed under Title 8.
The full text of the letter can be found here and below.
The Honorable Joseph R. Biden Jr.
President of the United States
The While House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20502
Dear President Biden:
We have a crisis at our southern border. Never before in our nation’s history have we experienced this scope and scale of illegal border crossings, and we remain concerned that your administration has not provided sufficient support or resources to the men and women of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) who are tasked with maintaining border security. We are committed to enacting bipartisan legislation that will allow DHS to effectively implement policies and programs that have been revealed as critical to maintaining operational control over the southern border, and do not involve paroling large numbers of migrants into the United States to undergo months- or years-long processes. These negotiations will take time. In the interim, we urge you to do everything within your power to extend the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC’s) Title 42 order beyond the looming December 21st deadline until Congress can act.
While admittedly imperfect, termination of the CDC’s Title 42 order at this time will result in a complete loss of operational control over the southern border, a profoundly negative impact on border communities, and significant suffering and fatalities among the migrants unlawfully entering the United States. In May 2022, DHS Secretary Mayorkas stated that the he was anticipating as many as 18,000 unlawful crossings per day once Title 42 was lifted. Based on recent court filings, DHS is almost completely reliant on Title 42 to control migration from Mexico and the Northern Triangle: the vast majority of Mexicans, Guatemalans, Hondurans, and Salvadorans encountered by U.S. Border Patrol along the border in October 2022 were expelled under Title 42 rather than processed under Title 8. Furthermore, your administration’s new migration enforcement process for Venezuelans depends on the availability of Title 42.
As long as Title 42 remains our only effective tool for controlling unlawful migration—along with the expectation of its imminent rescission—pressure will continue to build on the southern border. A recent article in the New York Times stated that “waves of Venezuelans have left South America as word has spread that the United States had no easy way to keep most of them out and would allow them to enter the country and seek asylum,” and that “[n]early all have passed through the Darién Gap.” Despite the administration’s reliance on Title 42 to maintain control, however, the CDC attempted to rescind the Title 42 order in April 2022, and after being preliminarily enjoined from doing so by Judge Robert Summerhays, appealed Judge Summerhays’ decision to the 5th Circuit.
Now, we are less than two weeks away from the termination of the Title 42 order as a result of separate decision issued by Judge Emmet Sullivan on November 15, 2022. While we appreciate that DHS sought a stay of Judge Sullivan’s decision in order to facilitate a transition period, a mere five weeks is completely inadequate to prepare for a massive influx of migrants when the infrastructure and policies are not in place to expeditiously remove those with invalid claims for asylum or other forms of relief. We are also concerned that aside from filing a notice of appeal weeks after Judge Sullivan’s decision, DHS has not outlined a viable plan to maintain operational control of the southern border. This situation is untenable, and we must work together to keep in place DHS’s authority to quickly expel migrants until an acceptable set of alternative policies and resources is put into place.
We hope that you will embrace this opportunity for decisive action to prevent the situation at the southern border from deteriorating further, and we look forward to continuing our work with DHS and your administration on a permanent, bipartisan solution to this problem.
Sincerely,
/s/
Senator John Cornyn, a Republican from Texas, is a member of the Senate Finance, Intelligence, and Judiciary Committees.
DIX Industries President Lee Ostos, left, accepts the Chairman’s Award from Brownsville Navigation District Chairman Esteban Guerra at the Port of Brownsville Customer Appreciation Luncheon held Thursday, Dec. 8, 2022, at the Ambassador Event Center in Brownsville, TX. Image Courtesy of the Port of Brownsville
Texas Border Business
DIX Industries has been named the Port of Brownsville 2022 Chairman’s Award honoree in recognition of the company’s accomplishments throughout its 75-year history at the port.
Brownsville Navigation District Chairman Esteban Guerra presented the award to Lee Ostos, president of DIX Industries, on Dec. 8, during the annual Customer Appreciation Luncheon held at the Ambassador Event Center in Brownsville, TX.
DIX Industries was established in 1947 by Richard Ostos at the Port of Brownsville. The family business has spanned three generations and celebrates its 75th anniversary this year. The company provides full-service stevedoring, warehousing, and logistical services to markets in the U.S. and Mexico. Today, there are over 100 employees throughout Dix Industries including crane operators, heavy machinery equipment operators, stevedores and office staff.
DIX Industries employees take the stage to join company president Lee Ostos in celebration of the Chairman’s Award. Image courtesy of the Port of Brownsville
“The legacy of a company like DIX Industries is earned and built from the ground up. It has been an asset to our local economy since its inception by the Ostos family,” said Chairman Guerra. “From locally grown agricultural products to windmill blades, steel, and space project cargo, DIX Industries has been there to connect the Rio Grande Valley with opportunities around the world.”
The company has grown exponentially from its original 400,000 square foot warehouse to 800,000 square feet of warehouse storage today, and has offices in Brownsville, Corpus Christi, Monterrey, and Veracruz, Mexico, to provide cohesive services to markets in the U.S. and Mexico.
“This award is a great honor for DIX Industries and is a result of the hard work and dedication from all of our employees,” said Lee Ostos, grandson of Richard Ostos. “With the assistance of the Port of Brownsville we are celebrating our 75th year anniversary of operations and look forward to many more years to come.”
Pictured above, Bob and Janet Ogden Vackar rejoicing with Covenant Christian Academy (CCA) students. The children were part of the committee to deliver a small little bronze statue called the Sower. It also a farmer sowing seeds into the ground. The statue has a scripture with a significant message from Matthew 28:19 (NIV) when Jesus instructs them saying, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and the Holy Spirit.” Courtesy photo
Texas Border Business
By Roberto Hugo Gonzalez
We indeed live in a fast-paced world where technology is rampant and growing by leaps and bounds. Technology is bringing significant advances to humanity and enormous distraction for everyone. In the middle of it all, we leave God out of the equation.
Covenant Christian Academy, a small Christian school in south Texas with a dream and a desire to start a high school is about to see its dream come true. After months of planning and a considerable time of communion with God, they will finally begin the first high school class at The Janet Vackar Distinguished Leadership High School at Covenant Christian Academy (CCA).
CCA is a private, nondenominational school that provides an education of academic excellence from a distinctly Christian perspective. The school’s leadership knew and felt that this upgrade to the school was long overdue.
You might ask, how did the Vackars come into this equation? Milton Gonzalez, the Head of School at CCA, said the Vackars considered the academy for one of their grandchildren. Later, they attended an event where they were touched by one of the students of the academy. She was educated through scholarships provided by CCA. Privately, the Vackars offered to help the young lady to continue her studies. Those close to Janet say she lights up when she’s around young students and loves investing in them and seeing them enjoy great opportunities.
During the first quarter of this year, the Vackars attended the first CCA Gala after the pandemic. They had sponsored a table, and Milton mentioned that because of the Vackars’ contribution to Covenant Christian Academy, they were finally able to open a high school.
Milton said, “The very mention of it, humbled them. Janet Vackar came up to me after, and she said, ‘Milton, I wasn’t expecting you to mention any of that’, and I said to her, ‘But how could I not? Honor is given to those who deserves the honor.”
Milton told Texas Border Business in Exclusivity, “I made it a point to say that God was using Janet as a vessel to bless the school. As a channel conduit of God’s grace extending it to our school so that we could start something bigger and bless more children in our community. But no, she’s always very humble about those things. I think that she blushed as I was watching. I couldn’t tell she blushed, but, for sure, she was very humble about the mention.”
The Vackars’ contribution will benefit students directly. By the time they graduate high school, the students will have a biblical worldview integrated into all their classes in high school, as well as a separate Bible class in each of the four years that they’re here at CCA.
Pictured above, Bob and Janet Ogden Vackar principals of Bert Ogden Auto Group with students. They are flanked by Natasha del Barrio, CEO Bert Ogden Auto Group and Milton Gonzalez Head of School at CCA. Courtesy photo
CCA Mission Statement
Milton said, “The academy’s purpose is to follow Proverbs 22:6 (KJV) – Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”
He pointed out, “This will hopefully help them to formulate their beliefs as to what they believe about scripture, about God, about Christ, and then be able to go out and defend their faith to the world,” he added.
A coincidence or divine confirmation? The school’s mission statement has been and is also Janet’s favorite Bible verse for many years.
Anyone could miss the message, however, the verse in Proverbs 22:6 served a purpose. It united and fulfilled the need for the Covenant Christian Academy to become a high school and gave the Vackars’ a chance to create significant opportunities in the future of young students.
The Vackars’ generosity also moved Milton, so he took a group of students to the BMW dealership to give Bob and Janet Vackar recognition for their contribution and to put a smile on their faces.
“The recognition is a small little bronze statue called the Sower. It’s a farmer sowing seeds into the ground. And it has a scripture from Matthew 28:19 (NIV) when Jesus instructs them saying, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and the Holy Spirit.”
Milton said that Bob and Janet Vackar are funding the school for five years. “They’ve already written the first check. They have assigned an amount per year to help fund the salaries of our staff.”
The generosity of Bob and Janet Vackar will help to continue to uphold the mission of CCA which is to equip learners for excellence, embrace biblical worldview principles, and empower servant leaders for Christ.
It is essential to mention that CCA is the only dually accredited program in the upper Valley through the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) and COGNIA. Dual enrollment for college credit is vital for students to continue their higher education wherever they choose.
U.S. Border Patrol agents assigned to Del Rio Sector encountered a large group of 704 migrants, in a single event, shortly after they illegally entered the United States. USCBP Image for illustration purposes
Texas Border Business
DEL RIO, Texas – U.S. Border Patrol agents assigned to Del Rio Sector encountered a large group of 704 migrants, in a single event, shortly after they illegally entered the United States.
On Dec. 8, at approximately 3:20 a.m., a large group of migrants illegally crossed the Rio Grande River near a local ranch at Eagle Pass. Agents responded to the area and apprehended 704 migrants making illegal entry into the United States. The group consisted of 535 Cubans, 74 Nicaraguans, 49 Colombians, 31 Dominicans, nine Peruvians, three Ecuadorians, and three Mexicans. An extensive breakdown of the group revealed there were 320 single males, 190 single females, 74 family units, and 12 unaccompanied children.
The U.S. Border Patrol categorizes groups of 100 or more as “large groups.” This fiscal year, which began Oct. 1, the Del Rio Sector accounts for nearly 90 percent of all large groups encountered by the U.S. Border Patrol nationwide.
All subjects were transported to the nearest processing center and processed in accordance with U.S. Customs and Border Protection policies.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations (OFO) at the Hidalgo International Bridge apprehended Victor Crisogono Salazar Islas, a male Mexican national from Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Mexico wanted for aggravated sexual assault of a child. USCBP Image for illustration purposes
Texas Border Business
HIDALGO, Texas—U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations (OFO) at the Hidalgo International Bridge apprehended Victor Crisogono Salazar Islas, a male Mexican national from Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Mexico wanted for aggravated sexual assault of a child.
“CBP is committed to bringing in those individuals to face their charges, especially those wanted for heinous crimes against children,” said Port Director Carlos Rodriguez, Port of Hidalgo/Pharr/Anzalduas.
On December 8, 2022, 47-year-old Victor Crisogono Salazar Islas, arrived from Mexico at the Hidalgo International Bridge and a CBP officer immediately secured him after discovering Salazar was a possible match to an arrest warrant. Once in secondary, biometric verification confirmed his identity along with the active arrest warrant from McAllen Police Department. Salazar has been wanted since July of 2022. He is charged with aggravated sexual assault of a child, a first-degree felony in the State of Texas.
A McAllen police officer arrived and took custody of Salazar and transported him to the city jail. Salazar will also be held pending removal proceedings.
Criminal charges are merely allegations. Defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Vice President and Director of Athletics Chasse Conque announced the hiring of Travis Bush. UTRGV Image
Texas Border Business
EDINBURG, Texas – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Vice President and Director of Athletics Chasse Conque announced the hiring of Travis Bush, who has 14 years of NCAA Division I college and eight years of high school coaching experience in Texas, plus one season of NFL coaching experience, in addition to significant ties to the Rio Grande Valley, as the first head football coach in program history.
Bush will be introduced to the public and the media at a press conference on Thursday 12/15/22 at 11:30 a.m. at HEB Park in Edinburg. All are welcome to attend. The press conference will also be streamed live via the @GoUTRGV twitter account.
Collegiately, Bush held positions including assistant head coach, offensive coordinator, quarterbacks coach, and running backs coach at Houston from 2012-14, offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at UTSA from 2010-12, associate head coach, co-offensive coordinator, quarterbacks coach and wide receivers coach at Texas State from 2004-10, and assistant offensive line coach and graduate assistant at TCU from 2001-04.
Bush helped to start the UTSA program from scratch and was in a similar situation to the one in which he currently finds himself at UTRGV, using 2010 as a practice year before winning four games with a team made up almost entirely of freshmen in 2011.
Bush has been the head football coach and athletic coordinator at Canyon High School in New Braunfels for the last two years. He held the same positions at Seguin High School from 2016-21. He was also a running backs and quarterbacks coach and special teams coordinator at San Marcos High School in 2000-01.
Bush worked for the Buffalo Bills in 2015 as an offensive assistant coach, working with running backs and compiling advanced game plan studies.
“We are extremely excited to welcome Coach Bush, Dee, Trey, and Ty to the UTRGV family. Travis gives us a unique opportunity to hire a coaching veteran in the state of Texas with both statewide ties and strong connections to the Rio Grande Valley. His experiences at both the college and high school levels, combined with his roots and love for the Rio Grande Valley, make him a perfect fit to help start and lead our football program,” Conque said. “Coach Bush comes highly recommended, having worked with outstanding coaches throughout Texas at stops such as TCU, Texas State, Houston, and UTSA. Our program will benefit greatly from Coach Bush’s experience helping to launch the Division I program at UTSA, as well as his strong recruiting ties throughout Texas. This is yet another milestone day for UTRGV and Vaqueros Athletics. Coach Bush is the perfect person to help us build our program and #RallyTheValley for years to come.”
Bush is the son of 2011 RGV Sports Hall of Fame and 2015 Texas High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Honor inductee and former Pharr North (2008-11), Donna (1995-96) and PSJA (1981-82) football coach Bruce Bush.
Travis Bush’s parents and older son, Treyson, live in McAllen. Bush’s mom, Ida (Palacios), is originally from Mercedes. Bush’s wife, Diana (Garcia), who goes by “Dee,” grew up in McAllen and went to McAllen Memorial High School. The Bushes also have a younger son, Tyler.
Travis Bush spent two years in the Valley as a kid while his father was the head coach at PSJA during the 1981 and 1982 seasons.
“We wanted someone who could check all the boxes, and Coach Bush checked so many boxes that we had to add more,” UTRGV President Dr. Guy Bailey said. “We’re excited to bring college football to the Valley, and I want to congratulate Chasse Conque and his team for finding the perfect coach to lead that charge.”
Bush turned around the Canyon program this season by leading the football team to its first nine-win regular season in 17 years and second in 27 years while making its second playoff appearance in nine years. He developed the top wide receiver in Texas 5A and the District 12-5A Offensive MVP while seeing his team set a program record for most academic all-district awards with 42. After a week two victory, Bush was named coach of the week by the Hispanic Texas High School Football Coaches Association.
Bush rebuilt the Seguin program as well, leading the football team to its first district championship and Texas state playoff appearance in 12 years in 2018 and then winning the 2020 district championship as well. His coaching staff was the first at Seguin to win multiple district titles in 27 years. In 2020, Seguin averaged a program record 52 points per game while featuring the most academic all-district players of all time with 30.
While at Houston, Bush helped to lead his team to the 2014 Armed Force Bowl Championship by running a multiple spread, up-tempo offense. He also ran an air raid offense in 2012 and 2013, doing all the play calling after week one in 2012. He consistently recruited players from the Valley, Austin, Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio while going nationally to find quarterbacks as well. His 2014 quarterback, Greg Ward, finished eighth in the nation in pass completion percentage. Bush’s 2012 offense finished 10th in the nation in pass offense and 18th in total offense.
Bush was the wide receivers coach at Texas State for his first three seasons, helping his team to the FCS Semifinals in 2005 after winning the Southland Conference Championship with an 11-3 record. Bush was promoted to associate head coach/co-offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach for the 2007-09 seasons, leading his team to the No. 25 ranking in the nation in 2009. Bush implemented a multiple spread offense, and the 2009 team ranked eighth in the nation in pass offense and 12th in total offense while quarterback Bradley George earned Southland Conference Player of the Year honors. The 2008 team won the Southland Conference Championship en route to the FCS playoffs while ranking fourth in the nation in scoring offense and fifth in total offense. George was sixth in the nation in pass efficiency. The 2007 team ranked 19th in the nation in total offense.
Bush started his collegiate coaching career with TCU, helping his team to three-straight bowl appearances. In 2002, TCU won the Conference USA and Liberty Bowl Championships. During his final two seasons, TCU went a combined 21-4.
Bush’s first coaching job was with San Marcos High School in 2000-01, when he helped his team to an 11-1 record and a district championship before finishing as a regional finalist.
“Growing up in and around the Rio Grande Valley, I am extremely humbled and honored to be a part of history at UTRGV,” Bush said. “There is no better place to start a Division I college football program in America right now than the Valley. When you look at the leadership in place with President Guy Bailey and Chasse Conque, the amazing team they have surrounded themselves with, and the plan they have put together to start this program, things are in place to do this better than it’s ever been done before. I am beyond excited and can’t wait to get down there and join the Vaqueros family.”
Bush played collegiately at Texas State as a wide receiver from 1995-99, serving as the special teams captain in 1999. He graduated in 2000 with a Bachelor of Exercise and Sports Science with certifications in math and physical education. Bush completed his Master of Education Administration at TCU in 2003.
Bush was a three-year varsity letterwinner and all-state quarterback while serving as team captain at Gregory-Portland High School. He also lettered in varsity track & field for three years while competing in varsity golf for one season.
Bush is a member of the American Football Coaches Association, the Texas High School Coaches Association (THSCA), the Hispanic Texas High School Football Coaches Association, and the Texas High School Athletic Director’s Association.
Season ticket deposits for the inaugural season of UTRGV football will be accepted starting Thursday at UTRGVTickets.com. The Vaqueros will take the field for their first season of competition in 2025.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING ABOUT TRAVIS BUSH
UTSA Head Coach Jeff Traylor
UTRGV hired the perfect fit with Travis Bush. Travis is an exceptional football coach with deep ties in Texas. He and his father, Bruce, have been part of the THSCA for many years, and the Bush name is very well respected across the state. He also has experience in starting a program, as he did here at UTSA. UTRGV hired the right man for the job, and I look forward to seeing Travis take that program to great heights.
Former UTSA and Miami Head Coach Larry Coker
Coach Bush is the perfect person for this job. He is a hard worker with a great football background and was instrumental in launching our program at UTSA.
Current Texas Special Assistant to the Head Coach Gary Patterson
Coach Bush has always been successful at anything he has done. Travis is a hard worker, great recruiter, and a people person with great leadership ability with Texas high school ties. Great hire!
San Francisco 49ers Assistant Head Coach/Running Backs Coach Anthony Lynn
I’ve known Travis for a decade. He’s a man of high character and integrity. He is a great example and leader to young men. He comes from a rich football background and brings a wealth of knowledge with him from helping to launch the football program at UTSA. Coach Bush has a broad understanding of how to build a culture that will always compete and get the most out of players on and off the field.
Florida Atlantic Head Coach Tom Herman
UTRGV hit a home run with Travis Bush! He’s not only a phenomenal coach, but he’s proven himself as a great recruiter and leader in this profession. His connections with Texas high school coaches and the Rio Grande Valley make him a perfect fit for the job!
Former Texas State, Rice, and Texas A&M-Commerce Head Coach David Bailiff
Travis is a very dynamic young coach who builds relationships with his players and peers. He has grown up in the game and has extensive knowledge in game planning and strategy. Travis is a great coach, but an even better person, husband, and dad. He puts people first.
Former UTSA Quarterback Eric Soza
Coach Bush took a genuine interest in me as a player and person. He helped mold me to not only be the best quarterback I could be, but more importantly, he helped mold me into the man I am today. He has been a mentor for me as a player and coach. As a player, I was excited to execute the game plan week in and week out. As a coach who worked with him, I saw a man who put his heart and soul into his work each and every day.
Former Texas State Quarterback and 2022 Texas State Hall of Honor Inductee Bradley George
I can’t count how many coaches I had over roughly 25 years involved in athletics in multiple sports, but Coach Bush is hands down the one that I learned the most from and respect the most. I think I speak for plenty of his former players that it was truly an honor and a blessing to play for him at Texas State. There were many offensive school records broken in my time there but none of them would have occurred if Coach Bush wasn’t the man behind the scenes setting his players up for success. I would still to this day follow him if he asked me to.
Mississippi State Running Backs Coach Jason Washington
I’m excited to see what my lifelong friend, Coach Bush, will build at UTRGV. He has an innovative mind for the game combined with high energy and a commitment to building relationships with players and the community. Coach Bush is a touchdown hire. The future is bright for UTRGV!
On Dec. 10 she walked across the stage to receive her Associate of Arts with her family in attendance. TSC Image
Texas Border Business
When Samantha Rodriguez was a young girl her family ritual was to cross the border on Sundays to enjoy an afternoon in Brownsville.
The family would walk by the Historic Campus of Texas Southmost College every weekend.
“I’ve lived in Matamoros my whole life,” Rodriguez said. “When I saw TSC I asked my mom ‘What is that?’ and she answered, ‘That is a college.’ Ever since then I would say “I want to save up and go there one day. I never knew it would actually happen.”
Fast forward to 2022 and Rodriguez crosses the bridge every day, this time as a TSC student. On Dec. 10 she walked across the stage to receive her Associate of Arts with her family in attendance.
“It makes me emotional in some ways to look back then and being here now,” she said. “I don’t talk about it much, but my mother has cancer. She always told me you need to graduate; you need an associate degree; you need to be someone. It’s going to be important to my mom that I achieved that.”
Rodriguez’s educational journey is common to many who live in Matamoros. She began attending Brownsville ISD schools in eighth grade. With her good grades, she was given the opportunity to take advanced classes, but the next step was a challenge: learn English to keep up with her peers.
She had studied some English when she was little thanks to the help of some Disney videos but being fully immersed in middle school was another level.
“It was really hard for me because all my life was Spanish,” she said. “I took classes in Mexico, but it wasn’t the same English as in Brownsville. It got easier when I started making friends in my AP classes. They would help me with homework and understanding lessons.”
During her two years at Texas Southmost College, she has been extremely involved. As a work-study under Ricardo Vasquez, Director of Multimedia Customer Relations and Communications, she has been tasked with taking photos, creating videos and assisting with the TSC.edu/news website.
“It has been an absolute pleasure to work with Ms. Rodriguez,” Vasquez said. “She is brilliant, hard-working, creative, and a quick learner. Amidst the difficult challenges she has faced, she still managed to maintain a high G.P.A., obtain merit scholarships, and now she is graduating Scorpion Strong!”
Her skills have grown, and she will continue to UTRGV to pursue marketing. “It has been great,” she said. “I learned a lot. I knew nothing about marketing, multimedia and all the web pages I’ve been helping Mr. Vasquez with. He taught me everything to be honest. I learned in about a month. He asked me in the interview if I was a quick learner and I definitely am.”
Vasquez said he knew she would be a great fit from her answers.
“When Ms. Rodriguez interviewed for the work-study position in my department, I mentioned that if hired, she would be learning web development, marketing, and photography,” he said. “I could tell by how her facial expression lit up that she would be a good fit.”
During her last few days as a Scorpion student, she has plenty of time to reflect, not only on her last two years but her entire life.
“It’s going to be really special for me and my family. It’s been hard for me during this journey. Crossing the border since eighth grade I’ve been waking up at five in the morning and waiting sometimes three hours at the bridge.”
The commute and the waiting and the learning will all culminate in a memorable moment during Fall Commencement Exercises scheduled for Saturday, December 10th at 11:30 am at TSC’s Jacob Brown Auditorium.
