Every generation, it seems, a person enters our lives and impacts society in a grand manner. Dr. Héctor P. García, the great Mexican American civil rights leader, was such a person. His life and times have been welldocumented in books and film.

In “The Inspiring Life of Texan Héctor P. García” we have a truly compressive resource detailing Garcia’s life on the front lines of the civil rights struggle, his work as a medical doctor and his role as a family man.

His daughter – Cecilia García Akers – has written an unparalleled gem about her “papa” revealing intimate family memories.

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Hector P. Garcia MD Endowed Presidential Scholarship: The scholarship was founded in memory of Dr. Hector P. Garcia by the Dr. Hector P. Garcia Memorial Foundation. Dr. Garcia, a 1940 UTMB alumnus ,was a pioneering figure in the effort to secure civil rights for Mexican Americans. He was well known as the Founder of the American GI Forum as for his appointment to the United States Commission on Civil Rights. Dr. Garcia was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1984, the only UTMB graduate to receive this designation. Dr. Garcia maintained an active private medical practice in Corpus Christi, with a commitment to the less fortunate, dispensing free medical care of patients. Candidates for the scholarship are asked to write a 1500 word essay, describing the life accomplishments of Dr. Garcia, that were relevant to their own pursuit of medicine, cultural competency skills, and leadership service in cross-cultural activities. Special preference is given to students from the Rio Grande Valley and Corpus Christi.

The Dr. Hector P. Garcia Memorial Foundation is honored to have provided Texas A&M Kingsville Foundation a $5000.00 check at the conclusion of National Hispanic Heritage Month. The funds are to assist 5 Veterans that are enrolled at the Kingsville campus for their educational needs. Pictured in the photo: Eloy Gamez(recipient), Tim Benavides(recipient), Cecilia Garcia Akers, Board President, Jim Akers, Board Treasurer, Moses Estrada, Board Member, John Harney(recipient), Hector Lopez, Director of Texas A&M Kingsville Foundation. Not pictured are recipients Chris Ruiz, and Elizabeth Johnsey.

ROCKVILLE, MD, September 22, 2016 /24-7PressRelease/ -- In 1949, the widow of an American serviceman killed in action was denied use of a chapel for his funeral. The reason? Her husband, Felix Z. Longoria, was Hispanic. The outcry that followed, and Mr. Longoria's eventual burial at Arlington National Cemetery, are all documented within the papers of Dr. Hector P. Garcia - prominent champion of civil rights for veterans and Mexican-Americans in the late 20th century. 

Up until recently, the only way to access the Garcia Collection was to visit the archives in person at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, or to correspond with the Special Collections and Archives staff. That is about to change.

History Associates is now working with Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and the Dr. Hector P. Garcia Memorial Foundation to make it easier for students, members of the community, and researchers worldwide to use the Garcia Collection. Catherine Rudowsky, Library Director, Mary and Jeff Bell Library, emphasized the importance of this endeavor. "A fundamental piece of civil rights history, Mexican-American history, and Texas history will no longer be hidden away and will be much more easily discoverable by researchers and historians worldwide, allowing for this important story to proliferate."

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The official Dr. Hector P. Garcia Texas State Recognition Day always begins with a Mass at IWA. The Dr. Hector P. Garcia Memorial Foundation awarded $5000.00 for tuition assistance to further a Catholic education. Many thanks to IWA remembering Dr. Hector in this memorable way.