Here is the cover of our 2026 Legacy Celebration booklet with a special message from our Foundation President, Cecilia Garcia Akers.       

We are proud and happy of the wonderful turnout at our the January 30th Luncheon. Thank you to all the hard working, dedicated individuals and organizations who helped make this year's event a resounding success!

Adelante y Gracias! 

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We congratulate our 2026 award recipients for doing an outstanding job for the Dr. Hector P. Garcia Memorial Foundation. Dr. Nelly Garcia Blow is our President's Award recipient, Lori Podolsky is our Legacy Award recipient, and Mary Spicak, is our Community Service Award recipient. Please help me congratulate them on these outstanding achievements.

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We are proud of our media sponsors.

Here is a great story from our friends at KRIS 6News.

Please click to view

KRIS6News Legacy Luncheon coverage

The 2026 Legacy Luncheon celebrates Dr. Hector P. Garcia's achievments. This year's focus deals with Dr. Hector's compassionate methods of treating his patients. 

Here are some of the images from the Jan. 30, 2026 sold out event.

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The Pre Celebration Luncheon Reception (1.29.2026) was an opportunity for freinds and supporters of The Foundation to gather

and catchup. We also welcomed some new forward thinking individuals who believe in our Mission.

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Here are some highlights from the new TAMUCC / Dr. Hector P. Garcia exibit on Chaparral Street in downtown Corpus Christi.

The 2026 Legacy Luncheon was a success!

The sold out event underscores the value South Texans

place on Dr. Hector's hard fought accomplishments.

Please click the link below to view our Legacy video.

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2026 Legcacy Luncheon Video

We appreciate ALL our Legacy Luncheon sponsors. Especially Citgo and Wyatt Ranches.

Thank you! 

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Thank you KRIS TV 6 for this incredible opportunity to speak about our Signature Luncheon

on January 30, 2026 at the OMNI Hotel-Corpus Christi.

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Please click :

KRIS 6News Legacy Luncheon Coverage

KiiiTV's Barbi Leo, Cecilia Garcia Akers and Jim Akers talk about the Dr. Hector P. Garcia Legacy Luncheon, January 30th at the Omni Hotel. 

 Our keynote speaker will be Dr. Nelly Blow.

Click The 2026 Legacy Luncheon tab for details.

Watch the interview here: 

Jan 18, 2026 KiiiTV Domingo LIVE interview

Most history books talk about battles fought overseas.
Few talk about the battles fought after soldiers came home.
After World War II, thousands of Mexican American veterans returned wearing uniforms, medals, and scars—only to face segregation, denial of benefits, and discrimination in their own communities.
One man refused to accept that silence.
Dr. Héctor Pérez García was a physician and a U.S. Army medical officer who served during World War II. He treated wounded soldiers abroad, believing that service to country meant shared dignity when the war was over.
But back home in Texas, he saw a different reality:
Veterans denied medical care.
Families shut out of education and housing.
Communities told to wait their turn.
So Dr. García acted.
In 1948, he founded the American GI Forum, an organization created to defend the rights of Mexican American veterans—and soon, entire communities. What began as a fight for fair treatment became a broader movement for civil rights, equal opportunity, and justice.
Through organized advocacy, legal challenges, and public awareness, Dr. García helped expose inequalities that many preferred to ignore. His leadership opened doors in education, employment, health care, and civic life—laying groundwork that future generations would build upon.
His message was simple, but powerful:
Service doesn’t end when the uniform comes off.
And equality isn’t a favor—it’s a right.
Decades later, his impact is still felt. His work reminds us that progress is often driven not by loud moments, but by steady courage, persistence, and a refusal to accept injustice as normal.
📚 Remembering Dr. Héctor P. García isn’t just about honoring the past.
It’s about understanding how change is made—one voice, one stand, one community at a time.

                                                            ***

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Channel 3's Barbi Leo talks to Foundation President and daughter of Dr. Hector P. Garcia, Cecilia Garcia Akers about the upcoming Legacy Luncheon. KiiiTV has always been a strong supporter of not only our annual luncheon, but also of our Foundation and Dr. Hector's Legacy. We appreciate everything Channel 3 does for our South Texas community!  Please click the video link below to view the interview.               

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CLICK

3News interview

The 2026 Legacy Luncheon PSA

CLICK TO VIEW OUR PSA

2026 Legacy Luncheon PSA

The Dr. Hector P. Garcia Memorial Foundation is honored to announce the CITGO Refining will be our Presenting Sponsor, and Wyatt Ranches Foundation will be our Underwriting Sponsor for our 2026 Signature Luncheon. CITGO has been our Presenting Sponsor since 2013, and has totally supported our efforts every year since. We are honored that the Wyatt Ranches Foundation will be assisting us with our Mission for the first time. #BeLikeHector

If this image could speak, it would tell the story of years of dedication and hard work...not only of what Dr. Hector P. Garcia did to better our lives, but also of the tenacity of his daughter, Cecilia Garcia Akers and her husband Jim. It's truly inspiring to witness their dedication to ensuring that Dr. Garcia's legacy remains accessible for future generations through the TAMUCC Special Collections and Archives located in downtown Corpus Christi (233 N. Chaparral). Dreams do come true!  #WhenLegendsBecomeLandmarks #BeLikeHector                                                                                                

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The Dr. Hector P. Garcia Memorial Foundation is honored to announce that Dr. Nelly Garcia Blow will be our Keynote Speaker at our Annual Legacy Celebration Luncheon to be held on January 30, 2026 at the OMNI Corpus Christi Hotel.

Dr. Garcia Blow was born in Brownsville, Tx, graduated from UTSA, and completed her medical school at the University of North Texas Health Science Center/Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine. She specializes in Geriatrics, and is currently practicing at Amistad Health, where she also serves as Chief Medical Officer.

Her passion is patient education and improving the lives of those who live in our Coastal Bend communities. Dr. Garcia Blow and her husband Dr. Osbert Blow were instrumental in the development and completion of the Dr. Hector P. Garcia Memorial Family Health Center.

The focus of this year's celebration will be Dr. Hector's influence in today's health care delivery, and his impact on primary care medicine.

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Nelly Garcia Blow, and the Foundation looks forward to her incredible and timely speech.

Click to view our promotional video

2026 Legacy Luncheon PSA

Save the date for this much anticipated, well attended event.

The Dr. Hector P. Garcia Legacy Luncheon is January 30th at the Omni Hotel.

We will announce our wonderful keynote speaker soon.

Stay tuned to this site and our FaceBook page for updates.

Learn more about our civil rights hero and trailblazer Dr. Hector P. Garcia.

Now, more than ever...#BeLikeHector

Save this date - January 30, 2026 for the Dr. Hector P. Garcia Legacy Luncheon.

You won't want to miss this highlt anticipated annual event.

Stay tuned updates!

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Click to view the luncheon promo 

CLICK TO VIEW DEDICATION SPEECHES

How about some GOOD national news for a change...MSN.COM covers the new Dr. Hector P. Garcia Exhibit.

CLICK

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/texas-a-m-university-corpus-christi-unveils-new-downtown-dr-hector-p-garcia-exhibit/ar-AA1MNtqw?ocid=socialshare

From Incarnate Word:

On September 17th, we gathered at the James R. Dougherty, Jr. Center for a Mass honoring Dr. Héctor P. García. Our 5th graders created a beautiful booklet of prayers, reflections, and hand-drawn art for his daughter, Cecilia. The Dr. Héctor P. García Foundation also gifted IWA $2,000 in his memory. We are truly grateful for this generous gift and for the lasting legacy of Dr. García’s compassion and service. #IWAPride #BeLikeHector