Cuate Santos: native son an accomplished chronicler of change at Laredo College and his hometown beyond

Although renowned photojournalist Ricardo “Cuate” Santos’ first memories of snapping photographs date back to his preteen years, his decades-long professional trajectory began at then-Laredo Junior College (LJC) in 1977 when he was hired as a work-study photographer for The McIntosh Express, the college’s student newspaper.

As part of the ongoing celebration of the college’s 75th anniversary, Santos recently donated an album from his personal collection to Laredo College with dozens of photographs from his years at the college the late 1970s. Through his photos and his recollection of fond memories, he compiles a history of the college’s evolution and its impact on the community.

Santos has been a part of the Laredo College community as a student, an employee, and a native son who visited the downtown Ft. McIntosh Campus growing up. He remembers tagging along with his brother Renato, who graduated from LJC in 1972. He enjoyed playing Ping-Pong at the old Corral, listening to music from the jukebox, and eating at the cafeteria.

The Martin High School graduate didn’t have a clear vision of his path after high school and had no plans to attend college. He enrolled at LJC after a meeting with the then-director of the Upward Bound Program at the college, who saw great potential in him and helped him navigate the college experience by getting him a stipend to take the admittance exams and helping him apply for scholarships.

Santos initially wanted to pursue architecture when he enrolled at the college but later decided against it and opted for psychology and sociology classes. His first job at the college was as a peer counselor, later transferring to a work-study position at The McIntosh Express. He then moved to the Communications Department as a work-study before landing a full-time job in the department as a photographer.

Throughout his time at the college, he documented student activities such as Friday night dances, plays, new programs and many historical events. He talked about capturing the essence of the college, which included the social experience in which students came not only for education but also for the vibrant cultural offerings.

Santos was part of the Teatro Chicano Cultural de Laredo Junior College, a small theater ensemble that performed both scripted and improv plays. These productions celebrated Chicano identity, culture, and heritage with a humorous, witty approach.

 His prolific photojournalism career spans four decades across multiple local media outlets. He spent 39 years at The Laredo Morning Times before retiring at the end of 2020.

A surprising detail about his journey is that he has never taken a photography course. He credits a few excellent photographers, many of whom he met at LJC, for being his mentors and teaching him to develop his photography skills.

He considers himself a “frustrated artist,” initially interested in this field and realizing it was not his calling. He took mechanical drawing and architectural drawing classes in high school but lacked the patience to express himself through this medium. However, he said that helped him learn about lighting and perspective.

“Photography has allowed me to express and capture what I see,” he said. “I couldn’t do that in an art class.”

Santos has seen the college undergo many transformations over the years, including two name changes, eight college presidents, a new campus, and countless additions to the historic and architecturally significant Fort McIntosh campus. His stories have often included people who came through the college and left an indelible mark, some of whom have gone on to make a difference in Laredo as elected officials, educators, and public servants.

Over the past 20 years alone, he estimates to have created close to half a million photos. And he has no plans to stop anytime soon. With the advent of social media and Smartphones, Santos found another avenue to express his unbridled artistic imagination. He is an avid nature enthusiast and enjoys photographing plants, birds, and the moon. He is active on Facebook and often shares his creations with friends, family, and the community.

Santos’ keen attention to detail is evident throughout his work. He believes that using an expensive camera doesn’t translate to creating beautiful photos, noting that “It’s not the equipment; it’s how you work the pictures.”

A love for his hometown shines through his work and serves as an homage to Laredo’s cultural wealth.

“I used to go downtown to run errands for my mom, go to the theater, or go have lunch with my sister,” he recounted. “I remember finding in some of the old buildings details that set memories, like a door handle that has Woolworth on it. The photo of it evokes memories of me as a kid going to the Plaza Theater or shopping at Woolworth’s. That’s a memory that I have.”

(As part of this yearlong celebration of Laredo College’s 75-year legacy, the college invites the community to share photos or albums that chronicle special events or moments that add to the institutional archives. Donations can be dropped off at the Harold R. Yeary Library at the Ft. McIntosh Campus and the Senator Judith Zaffirini Library at the South Campus. Electronic photos can be sent to LC75Photos@laredo.edu.)

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