Ike Epstein will be inaugurated as honorary President of the Republic of the Rio Grande at the Webb County Heritage Foundation’s annual Founders Day Celebration on Saturday, May 19 at noon at the Laredo Center for the Arts.
Epstein is recognized for his company’s 86-year history of developing and advancing the construction industry in the community. He has named individuals to serve as cabinet members who represent the historical characters that participated in the original Republic’s administration.
They are Clay Epstein, representing Francisco Vidaurri y Villaseñor, Vice-President and delegate for Coahuila; Carroll Summers Jr., representing Antonio Canales, Commander-in-Chief of the Army; Mike Herrera, representing Col. Antonio Zapata, Commander of the Cavalry; Douglas Alford, representing Manuel Nina, Quartermaster General; Jorge Vega, representing Juan Francisco Farias, Secretary; Andy Ramos, representing Juan Nepomuceno Molano, delegate for Tamaulipas; and Blas Castañeda, representing Manuel María de Llano, delegate for Nuevo Leon.
Past Presidents of the Republic of the Rio Grande include Congressman Henry Cuellar, Evan J. Quiros, Dr. Ray M. Keck III, Judith G. Gutíerrez, Dr. José Roberto Juárez, Norma Z. Benavides, Mercurio Martínez Jr. Elizabeth Foster, E.H. Corrigan, Sam N. Johnson III, Annabelle Uribe Hall, Renato Ramirez, Sr. María Luisa Vera and Sr. Rosemary Welsh, RSM, Shirley and Bob González, Betty and Oscar Moreno, Viviana Frank and Frank Rotnofsky, and Gary Jacobs.
This year’s Historic Business Award goes to Villarreal Electric Co., Inc., which this year, celebrates 80 years of service to the community.
Other Heritage Award designees are the City of Laredo, KLRN-TV, and Texas A&M International University, recipients of the Luciano Guajardo Award for their collaboration to create the PBS documentary video “Rhapsody on the Río;” Barbara Gonzalez Cigarroa recipient of the Jim Parish Award for Documentation and Publication of Local and Regional History for her new book, A Mexican Dream and Other Compositions; Gabriela Mendoza-García, recipient of the Preservation of Folklore, Customs, and Traditions for her work preserving folk dancing traditions; Dr. Jerry Thompson, recipient of the Elizabeth Gill and Sam Johnson III Lifetime Achievement Award, for his lifetime work in chronicling and promoting Laredo’s history; and the City of Laredo’s Utilities Department, recipient of the Environmental Preservation Award for the creation of the new Laredo Water Museum.
Complimentary valet parking will be available outside the Laredo Center for the Arts at 500 San Agustín Avenue.
For table reservations or more information on the Founders’ Day Celebration, please contact the Webb County Heritage Foundation at 956-727-0977 or visit them on Facebook or at www.webbheritage.org.
