The Webb County Heritage Foundation (WCHF) celebrates the 264th anniversary of Laredo’s founding with a Founders’ Day luncheon honoring the descendants of Don Tomás Sánchez and the city’s founding families. The annual event is set for Saturday, May 18, at noon at the Laredo Center for the Arts.
The celebration is open to the public and to all descendants of founding families as well as to all friends of historic preservation.
This year the Foundation will recognize Millie Slaughter as honorary President of the Republic of the Rio Grande for her personal commitment to preserving and protecting the historic Fort McIntosh buildings on the downtown campus of Laredo College. She and her cabinet will be inaugurated at the luncheon.
The luncheon includes a special recognition of some of Laredo’s most historic businesses and the annual presentation of Heritage Awards to honor individuals, organizations and families that have contributed to the unique architectural and cultural heritage of Webb County.
Vegas Interiores Mejicanos, which celebrates its 80th year in business, will receive the Historic Business Award. The Glass Kitchen, a longstanding Laredo favorite, will also be presented with a Historic Business Award.
The Jim Parish Award for Documentation and Publication of Local and Regional History will be presented to Gabriela Gonzalez for her publication, Redeeming La Raza: Transborder Modernity, Race, Respectability, and Rights. Also receiving an award in this category are Jane Clements Monday, Dr. Charles W. Monday, Jr., and Frances Brannen Vick, co-authors of Dr. Arthur Spohn: Surgeon, Inventor, and Texas Medical Pioneer.
Mary Margaret Freeman will receive the Archival Donor Award for her gift of a family
heirloom manuscript entitled Recetas de la Cocina del Comedor y de la Vida por Rebecca
González de la Vega de Iriarte.
The award for Contemporary Architectural Design Incorporating Traditional Elements will be presented to Roberto Gonzalez Jr. for his work in transforming a former carriage house in the St. Peter’s Historic District into an Airbnb.
For luncheon reservations and to reserve tables for 10, contact the Webb County Heritage Foundation at (956) 727-0977or at heritage@webbheritage.org Corporate sponsorship opportunities are available.
Complimentary valet parking is available for the event
SIDEBAR
About Millicent B. Slaughter
Millicent “Millie” B. Slaughter was born in Iowa, where her father was stationed during World War II. After the war, her family settled in Brownsville. She is a graduate of Trinity University in San Antonio with a Bachelor’s of Science in Psychology and a minor in sociology.
She is married to David M. Slaughter Jr. and is the mother of two sons, David M. Slaughter III and Stewart A. Slaughter.
She served as Alumni and Development Coordinator at Laredo Community College and later was promoted to Director of Donor Relations and Special Projects. In that capacity, she was responsible for establishing relationships with local civic groups, private businesses and individuals, and other organizations for fundraising purposes.
Under her leadership and guidance, she established LCC’s endowment, as well as the L.C.C. Education Foundation, which helps provide funds for various scholarships and infrastructure projects. After her retirement from the college, Slaughter joined the foundation as a trustee.
In addition to her work with LCC, Slaughter has been actively involved in Laredo civic groups and has served on various boards, including the Mercy Regional Medical Center Advisory Board, the St. Augustine High School Board of Trustees, the Laredo Philharmonic Board of Trustees, and, most recently, the L.C.C. Education Foundation. She also has been actively involved with the Society of Martha Washington and the Laredo Community Concert Association. She was a founding member of High Hope Volunteer of Laredo, which assisted families with disabled children
She retired from LCC in August 2014. In 2015. Dr. Juan L. Maldonado, then LCC President, and the Board of Trustees honored her by naming the Heritage Center the Millicent B. Slaughter Heritage Center, which is housed in the Pvt. David B. Barkeley Cantu Veterans Memorial Chapel.
