By Roberto Hugo Gonzalez,
As Originally Published by Texas Border Business newsprint edition.
It can be said that Dr. Guy Bailey took the bull by the horns when he was named founding president of the biggest institution higher education in South Texas. About the bull, well, I’m talking figuratively, but as big as the university is, it could also be as wild as a bull. Let me repeat, it is not a bull, but a higher education institution that grew enormously after the merger of the two universities of the Rio Grande Valley.
Aside from that, the creation of a school of medicine makes it even more unique and of course wilder.
He even said it, he has never done this before, and there is no manual to follow to put the pieces together of a university that is as big as the Valley.
Dr. Bailey travels a lot. He makes sure to be present in every campus of the university throughout the Valley. The number of miles on his truck is evidence of the work that it is taking to make sure that everything falls into place on a daily basis.
Texas Border Business asked Dr. Gilbert de los Santos to work with Dr. Bailey and write an article that tells the story about his “Herculean task”, as Keith Patridge described it.
Dr. De los Santos is a Marketing Professor Emeritus from The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. As publisher, I felt that it needed to be Dr. De los Santos to write the article that is featured in this issue.
As a publisher, I feel proud to have this opportunity to also have contributed a part of the story that will be preserved in the archives of the same university.
I was here 49 years ago when there were very few opportunities for education. I remember how difficult it was for everyone with a desire to become somebody. Many left to colleges elsewhere in the state and others out of the state. I am one of many of you that understands how detrimental it can be for an area with limited opportunities for education.
Today, it is a different story. Many of you have also witnessed what has happened since a college became a university. Many of you remember the transformation of the entire Rio Grande Valley with the creation of South Texas College. Now we are writing a new story with UTRGV; and today this Publisher’s Word will remain incomplete, because the story is being written day by day.
Thank you, Dr. Bailey, for accepting this challenge. Thank you for collaborating with all the other education institutions in the area. I am going to repeat what your friend, Byron Jay Lewis, the President/CEO of Edwards Abstract and Title said about you. “Dr. Bailey’s unwavering commitment to educational opportunities for South Texas comes through loud and clear.”
In this issue you will also get to read about Houstonville, a Minitropolis society within an elementary school.
Read about AT&T’s plans to hire 850 workers in Texas. Most positions will be for call centers, technicians, and in retail.
And for those moving up, Raul Cabaza, III was named president of Shepard Walton King Insurance Group. Congratulations!
Oh, by the way, a friendly reminder about the Affordable Care Act law becoming effective by January 2016. All companies with 50-99 employees are affected and need to be ready by complying with the law or expect to be fined. In this issue, read about the leadership of Green Insurance Group (GIG) and GREENCare in this regard.
I know you will enjoy it! TBB
