Oral History Commons^™

Interview No. 1536, Richard Castro

Combined Interviews

Richard Castro was born in Del Rio, Texas to two hard working immigrant parents. Castro remembers his mother being a seamstress and working late into the night in order to make her quota. His father owned his own construction business and would give his son business advice of never putting limitations on yourself. Castro was also influenced by his brother who attended college. Even though Castro faced challenges in school, he attended and graduated from Texas State University. Castro became a teacher but did not make enough money, so he had to take on side jobs in order to make …

Interview No. 1538, Teresa Gándara

Combined Interviews

Teresa Gándara was born and raised in Central El Paso, Texas. She attended various catholic schools and graduated from El Paso High School. She credits her catholic education for helping her through school. Even though her parents did not approve of her going to college. She cleaned houses, was a house painter, and a life guard throughout her college years. These jobs helped her to pay rent and basic needs. Gándara received her bachelors and master’s degree from the University of Texas at El Paso. While attending school, Gándara met her mentor Connie Gamboa who taught her how to channel …

Interview No. 1534, Gary Porras

Combined Interviews

Gary Porras, founder of Garick Electric Group, was born in Camargo, Mexico on March 17, 1949. He grew up in that same city and started to work on his parent’s farm at the age of 5. Later they went to Chihuahua, Mexico where he studied elementary school and worked as a collector and delivery boy. He wanted to be a missionary so he attended a seminary during his middle school years and only stayed there for two years and decided to leave this life because he did not agree with many of the beliefs taught there. Then he remembers that …

Interview No. 1531, Roberto Torres

Combined Interviews

Roberto Torres, owner of the eponymous certified public accounting firm, here shares his experiences both as a successful professional and El Paso business owner. Born in El Paso in 1951 to Gustavo and Carolina Torres, young Roberto was strongly influenced by his father’s entrepreneurial aspirations. After graduating from Jesuit High School, Torres attended the University of Texas at El Paso, earning an accounting degree in 1974. Gaining valuable experience, Torres spent many years working for large accounting firms. Throughout his early career he learned to understand the field’s unique climate and perfected his both his accounting and interpersonal skills. In …

Oral History Interview With President Emeritus Thaddeus Seymour, February 20, 2009., Thaddeus Seymour, Wenxian Zhang, Denise K. Cummings, Julian Chambliss

Oral Histories

Thaddeus Seymour came to Rollins in 1978 as the twelfth president of the College. During his twelve-year tenure, he not only transformed the school through fund-raising efforts, but also enhanced the academic excellence of its liberal arts education and strengthened the relationship with the local community.

Seymour was born on June 29, 1928, in New York City. His father was Whitney North Seymour, a well-known attorney and president of the American Bar Association. Seymour attended Princeton and the University of California at Berkley as an undergraduate. From there, he went to the University of North Carolina, studied eighteenth-century English literature, …

Interview No. 1532, Joe A. Rosales

Combined Interviews

Joe A. Rosales grew up in El Paso, Texas on the 1100th block of Missouri Street, which he calls “the barrio”. His father was a carpenter from Durango, Mexico and his mother was from Chihuahua, they had a total of 10 children including Joe. Rosales was a graduate of El Paso High School in 1957, the same year he opened his own concreate company. All throughout high school Rosales considered himself and entrepreneur, from collecting bottles, having a newspaper route, and washing cars. Since his father owned his own concreate business, Rosales learned business values and practices from his father. …

Interview No. 1529, Raymond Palacios

Combined Interviews

Raymond Palacios relates his experiences in becoming a successful hispanic businessman and current owner of two thriving car dealerships. Born in Houston, Texas, in 1960, Palacios credits much of his strong work ethic to the influence of his stepfather. Although his family remained poor, through sheer hard work his stepfather managed to support them. Thinking that college was reserved for wealthy white people, Palacios dreamed instead of joining the Marines. It was not until his senior year of high school that he realized that he had as much capability as his anglo classmates, and when he applied to the University …

Interview No. 1530, Alejandra Chávez

Combined Interviews

As both a young woman and a hispanic restauranteur, Alejandra Chávez has beaten the odds with her successful El Paso restaurant and catering business, Thyme Matters. In this interview, she recounts her childhood, education, and early career, and ends with advice for aspiring entrepreneurs in general and restaurant owners in particular. Born in Houston, Texas, in 1977, Chávez moved with her family to El Paso at the age of three. Both her father, a physician, and her mother, a journalist, emigrated from Mexico and, although neither initially spoke English, they managed to succeed in this country while modeling a strong …

Interview No. 1528, Alfredo Borrego

Combined Interviews

Alfredo Borrego, owner of Alco Machine Tool and Steel, Inc., surmounted considerable challenges in order to establish his business. He shares the nature of those challenges, his early life growing up in El Paso, and his advice for new entrepreneurs. Born in 1961 to Hector Borrego and Francisca Zuñiga Borrego, Alfredo learned the value of hard work early on as his father demanded that he accompany him on his job as a pool table/bowling alley mechanic. After graduating from Burges High School in 1979, Borrego began working in a Juarez maquiladora, but by 1990 found himself unemployed after being laid …

Interview No. 1524, Ricardo Villarreal

Combined Interviews

Ricardo Villarreal parlayed the knowledge he gained working as an electrician for the United States Navy during the Vietnam War into several successful El Paso businesses. Under the umbrella of Villarreal and Sons Enterprises, a company he began twenty-five years ago, he and his family now operate Villarreal and Sons Electric, Alpha Tech ELP, Alpha Tech C.E., and Greengo Alternative Energy. In this interview, Villarreal remembers his early experiences working as a busboy for El Paso’s Grigg’s Restaurant. After landing the job at the age of thirteen, he so impressed the owner with his work ethic that within a month …

Interview No. 1523, Rick Hernandez

Combined Interviews

Rick Hernandez overcame considerable odds to start his freighting company, Mustang Express, Inc. He relates how he capitalized on his experience as a third-generation truck driver, his sheer will and determination, and his family’s unconditional support in order to build his trucking line into one of El Paso’s foremost minority-owned companies. Growing up in the central and south side of El Paso, Hernandez attended Ysleta High School, graduating in 1978. Immediately after graduation he married his high school sweetheart, Laura, and began a family. Realizing that his job flipping burgers would no longer serve, Hernandez enlisted in the armed forces, …

Interview No. 1509, Hector Barragan

Combined Interviews

Hector Barragan founded the Pipo Academy of Hair Design in El Paso, TX; he is from Segundo Barrio in El Paso; he began cutting hair after leaving Segundo Barrio, learned it from his parents and brothers that were barbers on Colon St.; His mother is from Puebla and father from Chihuahua; describes working with his brothers and learning importance of sanitation and technique. Mr. Barragan recounts working for well-known barber Mr. Alonso Cole and the mentorship he provided in technique and the business aspects of running a barbershop and barber supply store; states Mr. Cole’s consistency and salesmanship made him …

Interview No. 1525, Mario Montes

Combined Interviews

In this interview, Mario Montes, founder of Urban Associates, recounts his early years growing up in El Paso as the grandchild of Mexican refugees, his experiences as a young man in the United States Army, his education at Texas Western College (now the University of Texas at El Paso), and his recipe for business success. Born in 1931, Montes, along with his six siblings, were raised by his grandmother while both parents worked. In spite of the cattle-ranching wealth his grandparents enjoyed while residing in their home state of Chihuahua, in 1910 the Mexican Revolution forced them to flee across …

Interview No. 1537, Basilio Silva Jr.

Combined Interviews

Basilio Silva Jr. is one of ten children, was born in a mountain village in Chihuahua, Mexico. Silva migrated with his family to El Paso, Texas to find employment. Silva was placed in a vocational class because he did not speak English. He faced racism and was called names while in high school, but turned the negative experience into drive for success. He also says his father instilled work ethic in him at a young age. He also worked with his brothers and sister to provide additional income for their family by finding odd jobs. Through a local program called …

Interview No. 1522, Mamie Salazar-Harper

Combined Interviews

Successful businesswoman Mamie Salazar-Harper began her life in Victoria, Texas, as one of eight daughters born to Manuel and Julia Salazar. Claiming that her mother’s strong work ethic and her father’s entrepreneurial spirit gave her and her sisters the tools they needed for success, Salazar-Harper worked her way up from a position as the Beeville, Texas, ColorTyme store manager, to the Rio Grande Valley regional manager for ColorTyme, and finally as the sole owner of the El Paso franchise. In this interview, Salazar-Harper shares her experiences as a woman and a Mexican-American entering into the business world. In addition, Salazar-Harper …

Interview No. 1517, Miguel Guerra

Combined Interviews

Miguel Guerra describes his background as a native of El Paso and how he established his practice, Total Orthotic and Prosthetic Solutions, Incorporated. He was born in El Paso on May of 1969. While his mother died when he was three years old, he lived with his father who was a self-employed renter of six apartment units. His father’s business endeavors encouraged him to become his own boss; he was also weary of experiences working for managers at fast food places such as Jack in the Box, Weiner Schnitzel, and Baskin Robins. Working at Baskin Robins, however, allowed Mr. Guerra …

Interview No. 1520, Rudolph Miles

Combined Interviews

Rudolph Miles was the president and founder of Rudolph Miles Customhouse Brokers, Inc. in El Paso, TX; he was born in El Paso in 1920; attended Lamar Elementary and El Paso High; could not attend college due to finances so took correspondence courses and vocational school in accounting; describes his parents, his mother was a homemaker from Mexico, his father was from Yuma, AZ and worked for American Smelting and Refining Company; spoke Spanish at home and learned English at school. Recounts his first accounting job with J.W. Chambliss that did construction contract work, later worked for El Paso Building …

Interview No. 1518, Susan Guerra

Combined Interviews

Susan Guerra, born in El Paso on August 1970, describes her upbringing and management of her husband’s practice, Total Orthotic and Prosthetic Solutions, Incorporated. Her father worked for Channel 9 El Paso and then later worked as an apartment manager; Her mother was a secretary who passed away when Susan was only five years old. She attended El Paso High and graduated from the University of Texas at El Paso with a nursing degree in 1993. She helped to start her husband’s practice, which provides prosthetic, artificial limbs as well as orthotic braces for their patients. Their office opened in …

Interview No. 1515, Tanny Berg

Combined Interviews

Tanny Berg, born in Israel on May 1948, is a native of El Paso who graduated from UTEP with a degree in business. His parents were Jack and Sarah Berg who operated a novelty business called Jack Berg Sales that was established since 1952 during the Korean War. The family business thrived due to its proximity to Juarez, Mexico. Berg notes that Mexico’s protectionist economy, which placed heavy tariffs on goods imported from the U.S., encouraged Mexicans to enter El Paso to buy U.S. goods that were not available in Mexico. His family spoke Spanish with their patrons, housekeeper, and …

Interview No. 1516, Maria Antonietta Orrantia

Combined Interviews

Maria Antonietta Orrantia was born in El Paso, Texas on August 1957. She was the youngest of her three other male siblings. Her mother was from Jerez, Zacatecas, Mexico and her father from Juarez, Mexico were they met. She grew up and studied her high school in Juarez. Later she earned a BA in Psychology from the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), got married and went to Guanajuato, Mexico and almost accomplished an MBA. After that she returned to UTEP and took non-degree courses in marketing. Orrantia recalls that her paternal grandmother started a small restaurant in downtown …

Interview No. 1533, George R. Saenz

Combined Interviews

George R. Saenz was born and lived in south El Paso, Texas. Through a childhood of divorced, poverty, and moving around from El Paso to Juarez, Saenz found strength through his mother. He began a paper route in order to gain extra income. Saenz joined the Navy and realized that receiving a check from the VA was not enough. He enrolled at the University of Texas at El Paso and graduated with a degree in mass communications. Moving from odd job to odd job was not enough, so Saenz began a career with Farmers Insurance. After working there for five …

Oral History Interview With President Emeritus Thaddeus Seymour, January 30, 2009., Thaddeus Seymour, Wenxian Zhang, Denise K. Cummings, Julian Chambliss

Oral Histories

Thaddeus Seymour came to Rollins in 1978 as the twelfth president of the College. During his twelve-year tenure, he not only transformed the school through fund-raising efforts, but also enhanced the academic excellence of its liberal arts education and strengthened the relationship with the local community.

Seymour was born on June 29, 1928, in New York City. His father was Whitney North Seymour, a well-known attorney and president of the American Bar Association. Seymour attended Princeton and the University of California at Berkley as an undergraduate. From there, he went to the University of North Carolina, studied eighteenth-century English literature, …

Interview No. 1513, Antonio Rico

Combined Interviews

Raised in Juarez and El Paso, Antonio Rico describes how his upbringing contributed to the establishment of his business, Electric Systems Engineers, Incorporated (ESEI). Rico attained his Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from UTEP despite some difficulties resulting from having attained his K-12 education in Juarez and some struggles to improve his English-speaking skills. He was drawn to engineering under the prospects that it was a “career of the future.” His current business, ESEI, provides IT services, telecommunications, networking design implementation, and project management. He was encouraged to start his own firm based on his experience working in telecommunications in …

Interview No. 1511, Leroy Candelaria

Combined Interviews

Leroy Candelaria is the founder of Biotech Pharmacy, Inc., he was born in Barstow, CA in 1959; he grew up in Long Beach, CA before his family moved to Belen, NM; he graduated Pharmacy School in 1983 from the University of New Mexico with a specialization in radio pharmacy; his mother was a housewife and his father retired from the U.S. Post Service, his father’s search for work required the family to move often; at home Spanish and English were spoken. Mr. Candelaria explains the service and products that his business provides, specifically drugs that are radioactive; describes when and …

Interview No. 1514, Lorraine Wardy

Combined Interviews

Born in 1946 and raised in Mexico City, Lorraine Wardy moved to the United States at age 18 when she married a man she met in El Paso. Since then, she has lived in El Paso for at least forty years. Her three children, one girl and two boys, each became successful entrepreneurs in other industries. Her first business emerged after divorcing her husband; She opened a “surf shop” named Locals Only that sold the latest clothes, shoes, and skateboards. She was later inspired to start her own clothing brand that she successfully marketed in New York. She went on …

Interview No. 1519, Moe Beltran

Combined Interviews

Moe Beltran describes his upbringing on the 3100 block of Alameda in El Paso, Texas and then his later business endeavors. He was eager to graduate from high school so he could enter the military during the Second World War. He graduated from El Paso Tech High but was too young to enroll in the military; Instead, he was offered a job at Bigsfield where he worked until 1945. Beltran went on to help with his father’s locksmith business, International Bike and Key Shop. Before he was seventeen years old, he married his sixteen-year-old wife. In 1951, Mr. Beltran purchased …

Interview No. 1510, Ray Hernando

Combined Interviews

Ray Hernando is the founder of RHO Logistics, Inc., he was born in El Paso, TX in 1957 in the Lower Valley; he was the fourth of seven children; both parents were first generation Mexican Americans with families originally from Chihuahua; graduated from Ysleta High; describes three years family lived in San Francisco due to father’s need for work, compares it to El Paso, describes the diversity and how it impacted his life and self-confidence. Mr. Hernando describes his parents work and them growing up during the Great Depression and living through World War II; recounts his early work experience …

Interview No. 1507, Fermin Dorado

Combined Interviews

Fermin Dorado is the president of Dorado Engineering in El Paso, Texas, started in June 1996; before he was El Paso city engineer for 28 years; explains how he created a professional selection process that helped shift work from all anglo firms to more hispanic firms for the city of El Paso; Mr. Dorado recounts the pressure he experienced from Mayor Francis over his retirement and accusations of bribery; covers his role in getting El Paso districts restructured for more accurate community representation, his role in LULAC and legal battles with the city government. Mr. Dorado recalls growing up in …

Interview No. 1508, Hector Holguin

Combined Interviews

Hector Holguin is the president and founder of Secure Origins in El Paso, TX; he was born in El Paso, his parents from the city of Chihuahua, Mexico. He attended El Paso High, received a Bachelor of Science from UTEP in Civil Engineering; Masters from UT in Structural Engineering; worked in aerospace engineering with Boeing Space System Center in Hunting Beach, CA for Apollo space missions. Mr. Holguin explains his work in engineering for the space program during the 1960s; recounts his family and decision to move back to El Paso; explains how work experience helped him secure a job …

Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar Systems (Joint Stars) --- The Early Days, George Cusimano

ERAU Prescott Aviation History Program

J-STARS is the airborne, battle management radar platform that was such a resounding success during Desert Storm I . Hear the exciting story of the challenges associated with its early development, from the Flight Test Engineer and Mission Commander who was involved from the very start.