UTRGV Vaqueros Honored in La Feria

His honor Victor Gonzalez, Jr., Mayor of La Feria, officially proclaimed August 31st as “The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Day in La Feria.” Many visitors and citizens took note of the special university flag flown prominently at the City Complex denoting the event.

Contingents of university officials presented the Vaqueros flag to city officials at a meeting in the Conference Room of the City Complex on August 25, 2015.

Jennifer McGehee-Valdez, Director of Public Relations and University Marketing and Communications said, “We are pleased that cities like La Feria throughout the Valley are accepting the Vaqueros flag to be flown on August 31, 2015.” She added that “We are now the “Valley’s University.” That is why we are visiting Valley cities to ask them to raise the UTRGV Vaqueros flag in all Valley cities on that date.” Director McGehee was accompanied by Blanca K. Otero, MBA, Public Relations representative.

On the occasion of accepting the flag, Mayor Gonzalez said: “Our community of the City of La Feria congratulates and welcomes the educational, business and economic growth and impact to be experienced in the Rio Grande Valley through the tremendous and innovative opportunities that the University of Texas/Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) will Provide.”

“Our community is excited and thoroughly supports UTRGV’s efforts, he said,” and we look forward to future university endeavors in our very own community. We will proudly raise the UTRGV flag in support of our regional educational institution–The University of Texas/Rio Grande Valley.”

The proclamation was authorized and signed by Mayor Victor Gonzalez, Jr. Mayor with these final words: “ VIVA UTRGV! VIVA LA FERIA!”

This historical reorganization of the University of Texas now encompassing all of the Rio Grande Valley was the result of the 83rd Texas Legislature which passes legislation on May 23, 2013 establishing a new first class university in South Texas. The Governor of Texas signed the bill into law on June l4,n 2013.

This legislation in one stroke of the pen combined the assets, human resources and institutional knowledge of the existing University of Texas Brownsville and the University of Texas Pan American. As a symbol of the new educational institution, the university adopted the image of the Vaquero as its official mascot. “It recognized and honored the original vaqueros (cowboys), being the pioneers of the region and were the precursors to the modern day American cowboy–thus the flag.” the director said.

In addition to Mayor Victor Gonzalez, those city officials who signed the City of La Feria Proclamation were: Esmeralda Lozano, Mayor Pro-Tem; John Betancourt, Commissioner, Position 1; John Hernandez, Commissioner, Position 2; Olga Maldonado, Commissioner 3; Julian Guevara, Commissioner, Position 4. The document was attested to by Esmeralda R. Sanchez, City Secretary, and approved as to form by Richard S. Talbert, City Secretary.