Gonzalo Garza Latino Lifetime Achievement Award

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Gonzalo Garza Latino Lifetime Achievement Award

The 六合宝典 ISD Gonzalo Garza Latino Lifetime Achievement Award is presented sparingly and after much consideration to a person (living or deceased) who has made significant contributions over the years to the education and development of 六合宝典 ISD students, with special attention to contributions made to Latino students and/or their families. 

The award is presented only when warranted and should recognize someone who has dedicated a large part of their life to giving back to their community.

 

Garza

Gonzalo Garza was born in New Braunfels, Texas on January 10th, 1927 and passed away on May 17th, 2022 at the age of 95. Beloved by his community, Garza spent his life serving with distinction in the Marine Corps during both World War 2 and the Korean war, and later as an educator throughout Texas. 

During the 1930s, Garza鈥檚 parents picked crops and like many families during the Great Depression, struggled to keep food on the table. Garza dropped out of high school after 9th grade to help provide for his family, and later joined the Marines at the age of 17. He was eventually deployed to the islands of Saipan and Tinian, where his desire to cultivate his education blossomed. When Garza returned, he acquired his GED and attended Del Mar Junior College in Corpus Christi, later transferring to St. Mary鈥檚 University in San Antonio. A year before graduation, he was called to serve in the Korean war, where he attained the rank of Platoon Sergeant. After returning, he resumed his studies, earned a Bachelor鈥檚 of Arts, began teaching at Edgewood Elementary School in San Antonio, Texas and eventually obtained his Master鈥檚 Degree in 1954 from Our Lady of the Lake University.

Garza moved to Corpus Christi in 1954, where he married Dolores Scott and they had 5 children. He became one of the first Hispanic school administrators in Corpus Christi, Texas when he was hired as Assistant Principal at Ella Barnes Jr. High School. Despite various interruptions in his schooling, Garza never stopped pursuing his education and earned his Doctorate in Education in 1976. Garza鈥檚 career as an educator grew as he obtained several promotions, and he eventually retired from 六合宝典 ISD as Associate Superintendent in 1992.
 

Premio Latino Gonzalo Garza por Trayectoria Personal y Profesional del distrito escolar de 六合宝典 se presenta espor谩dicamente y despu茅s de mucha consideraci贸n a una persona (viva o fallecida) que por varios a帽os ha hecho contribuciones significativas a la educaci贸n y el desarrollo de los estudiantes del distrito escolar de 六合宝典, con atenci贸n especial a las contribuciones hechas a los estudiantes latinos y/o sus familias.

El premio se entrega solo cuando se justifica y reconoce a alguien que ha dedicado gran parte de su vida a retribuir a su comunidad.

Gonzalo Garza naci贸 en New Braunfels, Tejas el 10 de enero de 1927, y falleci贸 el 17 de mayo del 2022 a los 95 a帽os de edad. Amado por su comunidad, Garza pas贸 su vida sirviendo con distinci贸n en la Infanter铆a de Marina de los EEUU durante la Segunda Guerra Mundial y la Guerra de Corea, y m谩s tarde como educador en todo Tejas.

Durante los 1930, los padres de Garza recog铆an cultivos y como muchas familias durante la gran Depresi贸n, ten铆an dificultad para alimentar a sus familias. Garza dej贸 la escuela despu茅s del 9no grado para apoyar a su familia, y luego se inscribi贸 en la Infanter铆a de Marina de los EEUU a los 17 a帽os. Eventualmente fue enviado a las islas de Saipan y Tinian, donde mostr贸 inter茅s de continuar su educaci贸n. Cuando regres贸 Garza, obtuvo su GED y estudi贸 en Del Mar Junior College in Corpus Christi, luego se transfiere a la universidad St. Mary en San Antonio. Un a帽o antes de su graduaci贸n, fue llamado a servir en la Guerra de Corea, donde obtuvo el rango de Sargento. Despu茅s de regresar, continu贸 estudiando y obtuvo su maestr铆a en 1954 de la Universidad Our Lady of the Lake. 

Garza se mud贸 a Corpus Christi en 1954, donde se cas贸 con Dolores Scott y tuvieron 5 hijos. 脡l se convirti贸 en uno de los primeros administradores hispanos de escuelas en Corpus Christi, Tejas cuando fue contratado como director de la secundaria Ella Barnes. A pesar de varias interrupciones en su educaci贸n, Garza nunca par贸 de continuar su educaci贸n y obtuvo su doctorado en educaci贸n en 1976. La carrera de Garza como educador creci贸 y obtuvo varias promociones. Eventualmente se jubil贸 de 六合宝典 ISD como superintendente asociado en 1992.