Gregg Cross Interview, Wright State University Alumnus,
2010
Wright State University - Main Campus
Gregg Cross Interview, Wright State University Alumnus, Chris Wydman, Gregg Cross
Wright State University Retirees Association Oral History Project
Chris Wydman interviewed Gregg Cross on August 12, 2010 about the founding of Wright State University and his perspective as a student athlete in the early years of the University. In the interview Mr. Cross discusses his career and his decision to come to Wright State as one of the early students.
Interview No. 1494,
2010
University of Texas at El Paso
Interview No. 1494, Raul Ramos
Paso del Norte Entrepreneurship Oral History Project
Raul Ramos purchased Han-D-Pak from Mr. Young. Raul admits not knowing much about owning a small business however he did see a need for the products within the local market. Raul worked out of a small grocery owned by his mother-in-law and had the help of his two brothers and mother. They would all work to package and deliver the products to the local grocery stores. Raul hand made the racks to hold his product until he was able to hire a carpenter to assist him in the creation of the racks. Raul bought into El Paso products from companies …
Interview No. 1494,
2010
University of Texas at El Paso
Interview No. 1494, Raul Ramos
Combined Interviews
Raul Ramos purchased Han-D-Pak from Mr. Young. Raul admits not knowing much about owning a small business however he did see a need for the products within the local market. Raul worked out of a small grocery owned by his mother-in-law and had the help of his two brothers and mother. They would all work to package and deliver the products to the local grocery stores. Raul hand made the racks to hold his product until he was able to hire a carpenter to assist him in the creation of the racks. Raul bought into El Paso products from companies …
S, Robert,
2010
Fordham University
S, Robert, Fcrh Honors Program
FCRH Honors Program Oral History Project
Dr. Robert S., Ph.D., graduated from Fordham honors with his Bachelor’s of Science in 1960 and from Princeton with his Doctorate in 1964. Both degrees were in chemistry, and Dr. Robert went on to have an astounding career in the field of engineering plastics. He initially served as a captain in the U.S. Army and transitioned to work in technical management at Honeywell, ITW, and Engelhard corporations. After retiring, he became increasingly active in consulting and board work at S.C. Johnson Corporation, R&D Council of New Jersey, the Association of Princeton Graduate Alumni, and the EPA Clean Air Act Advisory …
Interview No. 1493,
2010
University of Texas at El Paso
Interview No. 1493, Julius Lowenberg
Paso del Norte Entrepreneurship Oral History Project
When Julius graduated from St. Patrick’s Cathedral High School in the early 1950’s, he went to work for Fur Foods and then the railroad company. After being let go from the railroad company, Julius started volunteer coaching touch football. The following year, Julius began coaching tackle football and basketball at St. Patrick’s. During this time, Julius began attending The University of Texas at El Paso and did so while coaching at St. Patrick’s. Julius left St. Patrick’s to coach at Putnam Elementary when he was offered a high school coaching job at a school in Canutillo, a community in the …
Interview No. 1493,
2010
University of Texas at El Paso
Interview No. 1493, Julius Lowenberg
Combined Interviews
When Julius graduated from St. Patrick’s Cathedral High School in the early 1950’s, he went to work for Fur Foods and then the railroad company. After being let go from the railroad company, Julius started volunteer coaching touch football. The following year, Julius began coaching tackle football and basketball at St. Patrick’s. During this time, Julius began attending The University of Texas at El Paso and did so while coaching at St. Patrick’s. Julius left St. Patrick’s to coach at Putnam Elementary when he was offered a high school coaching job at a school in Canutillo, a community in the …
Interview No. 1492,
2010
University of Texas at El Paso
Interview No. 1492, Patti Holland Branch
Paso del Norte Entrepreneurship Oral History Project
Patti Holland Branch began developing her skills as an entrepreneur when she was around the age of 8. Patti purchased a weave machine to make pot holders and sold them around the neighborhood to earn money for her family. Patti would also host a summer school for the kids in her neighborhood and would receive gifts of cash for her efforts. When Patti was a teenager, she worked for the Mayor’s office creating a scrapbook. She eventually earned the Dorrance D. Roderick scholarship to attend Texas Western College. Patti married her husband and they moved to Germany for his work …
Interview No. 1492,
2010
University of Texas at El Paso
Interview No. 1492, Patti Holland Branch
Combined Interviews
Patti Holland Branch began developing her skills as an entrepreneur when she was around the age of 8. Patti purchased a weave machine to make pot holders and sold them around the neighborhood to earn money for her family. Patti would also host a summer school for the kids in her neighborhood and would receive gifts of cash for her efforts. When Patti was a teenager, she worked for the Mayor’s office creating a scrapbook. She eventually earned the Dorrance D. Roderick scholarship to attend Texas Western College. Patti married her husband and they moved to Germany for his work …
Interview No. 1694,
2010
University of Texas at El Paso
Interview No. 1694, Helen Santamaria Sister
Combined Interviews
Her given name Helen E. Santamaria was born April 18, 1943. Her nun name is Helen Miriam Santamaria. She is named after her mother and she wanted to keep the name Helen. Her mother is a native El Pasoan. Her father is from Mexico who came to visit his brother in Juarez. He attended a wedding and met her mother. She was 16 and he was 23. She described their meeting at love at first sight. The pair waited for her to graduate from High School, El Paso High School to get married. She graduated in May and the pair …
M, Ken,
2010
Fordham University
M, Ken, Fcrh Honors Program
FCRH Honors Program Oral History Project
Dr. Ken M., a mathematics major from the class of 1962, dedicated his life to the study and teaching of mathematics and its applications in computer and information science. After graduating from the Fordham honors program, he studied on an NSF fellowship, a Woodrow Wilson Fellowship, and a NATO post-doctoral fellowship after obtaining his Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley. He has taught and conducted research at Princeton University, the Rockefeller University, the University of Bruxelles, the University of Paris, and multiple CUNY universities. His work in logic, computational science, and artificial intelligence is highly regarded and has been …
Interview No. 1491,
2010
University of Texas at El Paso
Interview No. 1491, Mike Garcia
Paso del Norte Entrepreneurship Oral History Project
Mike was brought to El Paso by his godmother to attend school at Lydia Patterson Institute in El Paso, Texas when he was 11 years old. Mike had his first job working at a bowling alley in El Paso at the age of 12. At the age of 15 years old, he got married. Mike cared for and loved his mother Benita very much. He recalls that she taught him to better his life, to better his family, to do the proper thing, to be honest with himself, and to have self-respect. Mike has used these concepts to build his …
Interview No. 1491,
2010
University of Texas at El Paso
Interview No. 1491, Mike Garcia
Combined Interviews
Mike was brought to El Paso by his godmother to attend school at Lydia Patterson Institute in El Paso, Texas when he was 11 years old. Mike had his first job working at a bowling alley in El Paso at the age of 12. At the age of 15 years old, he got married. Mike cared for and loved his mother Benita very much. He recalls that she taught him to better his life, to better his family, to do the proper thing, to be honest with himself, and to have self-respect. Mike has used these concepts to build his …
Interview No. 1490,
2010
University of Texas at El Paso
Interview No. 1490, Leigh Kersh
Paso del Norte Entrepreneurship Oral History Project
Leigh Kersh was born in El Paso, Texas to Moe and Rosie Kersh. Leigh attended The University of Texas at El Paso and The University of Texas at Austin before attending New York University and graduating with a degree in Physiology. While Leigh finished her degree at NYU, she worked for Federal Express in customer service and then once she graduated she became their corporate physiologist. Leigh credits her time with Federal Express for learning how to do customer service, how to run an operation, and how to train the right people for the company. Leigh grew up watching her …
Interview No. 1693,
2010
University of Texas at El Paso
Interview No. 1693, Elisa Rodriguez Sister
Combined Interviews
Elisa Rodriguez was born on May 15, 1936 during a home birth in the Segundo Barrio. She and her family lived on Santa Fe Street. Her father was born in Torreon, Mexico. His father died when he was 1, and his mother remarried and had two other children. Her mother was born in San Elizario. She was one of seven children. Sisters of Loretto started in San Elizario in 1878. There was an early connection between her mother and the convent. She went from El Paso High School to St. Joseph High School and graduated from there. Rodriguez speaks about …
Interview No. 1490,
2010
University of Texas at El Paso
Interview No. 1490, Leigh Kersh
Combined Interviews
Leigh Kersh was born in El Paso, Texas to Moe and Rosie Kersh. Leigh attended The University of Texas at El Paso and The University of Texas at Austin before attending New York University and graduating with a degree in Physiology. While Leigh finished her degree at NYU, she worked for Federal Express in customer service and then once she graduated she became their corporate physiologist. Leigh credits her time with Federal Express for learning how to do customer service, how to run an operation, and how to train the right people for the company. Leigh grew up watching her …
Interview No. 1489,
2010
University of Texas at El Paso
Interview No. 1489, Don Shapiro
Paso del Norte Entrepreneurship Oral History Project
Don Shapiro was born and raised in the New York Metropolitan Area. In the 1930’s Don’s father Isadore worked in the fur district in New York City. When Don graduated from high school, he joined the United States Naval Reserve during World War II. After WWII, Done atteneded NYU and got a degree in accounting. After graduating NYU, he became a door to door salesman in New York City. After a time in New York, Don and his friend Harry Katz decided to drive cross country to California and work to earn money along the way. They started by driving …
Interview No. 1489,
2010
University of Texas at El Paso
Interview No. 1489, Don Shapiro
Combined Interviews
Don Shapiro was born and raised in the New York Metropolitan Area. In the 1930’s Don’s father Isadore worked in the fur district in New York City. When Don graduated from high school, he joined the United States Naval Reserve during World War II. After WWII, Done atteneded NYU and got a degree in accounting. After graduating NYU, he became a door to door salesman in New York City. After a time in New York, Don and his friend Harry Katz decided to drive cross country to California and work to earn money along the way. They started by driving …
Interview No. 1464,
2010
University of Texas at El Paso
Interview No. 1464, Silbano Robledo
Combined Interviews
Silbano Robledo was very tired of working in his town from 6:00 am to 6:00 pm without a good salary. After he got married, he started a small business selling peanuts. Mr. Robledo traveled to Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico to get hired as a bracero; He worked in El Valle picking cotton and then traveled to La Mesa de Lobos and worked doing the same job. He worked as a bracero for three years until 1959. He worked from twelve-hour days with a salary of $ 7.00 dollars per day. Robledo lived with his co-workers and they all together bought …
Interview No. 1488,
2010
University of Texas at El Paso
Interview No. 1488, Ruben E. Guerra
Combined Interviews
Mr. Guerra was born and raised in McAllen, TX. He speaks about how his family was one of the founding families in McAllen and started as a land clearing business. Mr. Guerra said both sides of his family came from different socioeconomic classes but each side was hardworking. He worked at a small convienience store his family owned during the summer when he was about eight to ten years old. When he was in the eighth grade, his family moved to El Paso at the urging of doctors who said his bother would die if he did not move to …
Interview No. 1487,
2010
University of Texas at El Paso
Interview No. 1487, Gustavo Rodriguez
Paso del Norte Entrepreneurship Oral History Project
Gustavo learned the glass trade while growing up and working alongside his father. The name of his father’s business was Rodriguez Glass. Gustavo’s father had a hard time purchasing glass at an honest price and would purchase glass from Ciudad Juárez, México until a man from Amarillo approached them about buying the glass from him. Gustavo met his wife Elma when they were in high school and they married five years later. Gustavo was in the United States Navy Construction Battalion Reserves and was drafted into the Vietnam War in the early 1960’s. When Gustavo returned home, he had $500 …
