COUNTDOWN TO THE 125th CELEBRATION

Honorees

Matias de Llano Memorial Awards

The Matias de Llano Memorial Award is presented annually by the president of the WBCA to a director in recognition for service to the Association, for efforts to improve committee work and for service and time devoted. This is the top honor that can be received by a director.

  • 2024 Scott Payne
  • 2023 Bryon “Andy” Alford
  • 2022 Rosa Cruz
  • 2022 Emmanuel Guajardo
  • 2020 Jose Eduardo "Pepe" Garcia
  • 2020 Lisa Zuñiga
  • 2019 David Ramos
  • 2018 Fernando Montemayor
  • 2017 Jerry Lara
  • 2016 Natalie Hernandez
  • 2015 Matthew Gibson
  • 2015 Mike Marasco
  • 2015 Bobby Peregoy
  • 2014 Fred Santos
  • 2013 Cordelia Valdez
  • 2013 Rochelle Gonzalez
  • 2012 Nydia Weathers
  • 2011 Norma Moore
  • 2010 Eddie Villarreal
  • 2009 Evelyn Sames Cain
  • 2009 Jay Puig
  • 2008 J.R. "Bob" Weathers
  • 2007 Patricia Guajardo
  • 2006 Jose A. Palacios, Jr.
  • 2005 Glenn W. Pruess, II
  • 2004 Jim B. Kelley
  • 2004 Glenn W. Pruess, II
  • 2003 Minita Ramirez
  • 2002 Randall S. Blair
  • 2001 Eloy Cantu
  • 2000 Veronica Castillon
  • 1999 Ernest J. Mora
  • 1998 Robert Summers
  • 1997 Aladar "Ito" Deutsch
  • 1996 Tony Treviño
  • 1995 Melissa C. Cigarroa
  • 1995 Steve LaMantia
  • 1994 Nancy S. Blair
  • 1993 Carlos Garza
  • 1992 Edward Macdonald
  • 1992 Richard Powell
  • 1992 Sabas Zapata, III
  • 1991 Glen S. Jackson
  • 1990 J. Jorge Verduzco
  • 1989 William Alexander
  • 1988 Lester Powell
  • 1987 Rex H. Ball
  • 1986 Fernando Zuñiga, III
  • 1985 Blas M. Martinez
  • 1984 LULAC Council #12
  • 1983 John H. Keck
  • 1982 George G. Gregg
  • 1981 John Puig
  • 1980 Edward J. Hughes
  • 1979 Mike Perez
  • 1978 W.R. Powell
  • 1977 Frank Staggs
  • 1976 G.E. Glassford
  • 1975 Harold Goodwin
  • 1974 Renato Zapata, Jr.
  • 1973 Velia Uribe
  • 1972 Jose L. Gonzalez
  • 1971 Roberto Flores

President’s Merit Awards

The President's Merit Award is presented annually by the president of the WBCA to a member of the Association in recognition for exceptional service in committee work and promotion of the Celebration. This is the top honor that can be bestowed by the WBCA to a member.

  • 2024 Jesse Gonzalez
  • 2023 Dario Gutierrez III
  • 2022 Gilbert Bermea
  • 2020 Jaime Fuentes
  • 2019 Anabella Herbig
  • 2019 Monica Lopez
  • 2018 Rafael Martinez
  • 2017 Albert Salinas
  • 2016 Sara A. Melendez
  • 2015 Juan Pablo Bolaños
  • 2015 Rochelle Gonzalez
  • 2015 Norma Moore
  • 2014 Mike Marasco
  • 2014 Amelia Bravo
  • 2014 Anita Cavazos
  • 2013 Jerry Lara
  • 2013 Randy Blair
  • 2012 Matthew Gibson
  • 2012 Fred Santos
  • 2012 AnnaIsabel Alvarez
  • 2011 Dr. Marcus Nelson
  • 2010 Veronica Castillon
  • 2010 Dan Ryan
  • 2009 Natalie Hernandez
  • 2009 IBC Volunteers
  • 2008 Chief Carlos Carrillo
  • 2008 Roberto Murillo
  • 2007 Carlos Garza
  • 2007 Dan Ryan
  • 2007 J.R. "Bob" Weathers
  • 2006 Celinda Gonzalez
  • 2005 Anselmo Castro, Jr.
  • 2004 Senator Judith Zaffirini
  • 2003 Nick M. Reyna
  • 2002 Mary Lamar Leyendecker
  • 2002 Jose A. Palacios, Jr.
  • 2002 Richard R. Valls, Jr.
  • 2002 Lisa Zuñiga
  • 2001 Amelia Bravo
  • 2001 Olga P. Gentry
  • 2001 Ramon Diez-Barroso
  • 2000 D.J. Utterback
  • 1999 Minerva G. Ramirez
  • 1999 Lisa Zuñiga
  • 1999 Cynthia Haynes Rodriguez
  • 1998 Arturo Barrera
  • 1997 Patricia Guajardo
  • 1997 Rosie Hearn
  • 1997 Rosie Macdonald
  • 1996 Diane Gates
  • 1996 Linda LaMantia
  • 1995 Anthony Treviño, Jr.
  • 1995 Randall S. Blair
  • 1995 Rosa Maria Vida
  • 1994 Leonard Martin
  • 1993 Richard Noriega
  • 1993 Linda Bruni
  • 1993 Minerva G. Ramirez
  • 1992 Linda LaMantia
  • 1991 Victor Oliveros
  • 1990 Carol Sherwood
  • 1989 Jose Compean
  • 1989 Daniel Andrade
  • 1988 Edward Macdonald
  • 1987 James Parish, Jr.
  • 1986 J. Jorge Verduzco
  • 1986 Manuel Guerra
  • 1985 Candy Hein
  • 1983 Minerva G. Ramirez
  • 1983 Blas M. Martinez
  • 1982 Bill McDonald
  • 1981 Arturo Gutierrez
  • 1980 Mario Sanchez

Joseph Netzer Awards

The Joseph Netzer Award is presented annually to a director or directors, who have gone above and beyond the call of duty to provide the president of WBCA with assistance in achieving a successful year. The award is names after WBCA's first president, who initially headed the Celebration in 1898 and seven times thereafter.

  • 2024 Abner "AB" Miranda
  • 2024 Monica Ayala
  • 2023 Rafael Martinez
  • 2023 Nydia Weathers
  • 2022 David Ramos
  • 2020 Marcus Sepulveda
  • 2019 Bryon "Andy" Alford
  • 2018 Nydia Weathers
  • 2017 Norma Moore
  • 2016 Jesse Gonzalez
  • 2015 Randy Blair
  • 2015 Anita Cavazos
  • 2015 Lisa Zuñiga
  • 2014 Jerry Lara
  • 2014 Avery Jackson
  • 2013 Greg Kahn
  • 2013 Fred Santos
  • 2012 Robert J. Peregoy
  • 2011 Nancy Brice
  • 2011 Christina Dovalina
  • 2010 Adrienne G. Treviño
  • 2009 Dr. Joseph B. Castellano
  • 2008 Hector "Tito" Garcia
  • 2008 Victor Garcia
  • 2007 Veronica Castillon
  • 2007 Glenn W. Preuss, II
  • 2007 Eddie Villarreal
  • 2006 Cordelia Valdez
  • 2005 Patricia Guajardo
  • 2005 Christopher C. Peterson
  • 2005 Robert H. Summers
  • 2005 J.R. "Bob" Weathers
  • 2004 Melissa C. Cigarroa
  • 2003 Steve V. Jackson
  • 2002 Anselmo Castro, Jr.
  • 2001 Linda LaMantia
  • 2000 Thomas A. Gates
  • 2000 David Cardwell