SAN ANGELO –Three pillars—preparation, perseverance, and hard work —were clearly identified not only in this year’s San Angelo Hispanic Heritage Museum & Cultural Center award nominees but also in its guest, Actor, Producer, and Activist Wilmer Valderrama. The awards ceremony capped off the Hispanic Heritage Month.
SAHHMCC proudly announced its annual awards to seven distinguished recipients, honoring individuals who embody leadership, service, and cultural pride within our community. Each award is named after a visionary whose legacy continues to inspire the San Angelo community.
SAHHM&CC invited the Angelo State University Los Pastores group, which performed several songs. Tú Sólo Tú, widely recognized, was once performed by the Queen of Tejano, and American singer-songwriter, Selena.
The second mariachi classic, El Sol De la Negra, is among the top 10 best of all time and has been widely considered the “second national anthem of Mexico.” In the 1800s, it was composed by Blas Galindo. Los Pastores group is under the direction of Mr. Rosendo Ramos.
Below are the names of this year’s honoree recipients.
Carolina Angela de la Garza Dewitt Legend Award
This year’s honoree is the late Henry Hogeda, Sr., founder of The Original Henry’s Restaurant, recognized for his extraordinary contributions to the development and cultural richness of San Angelo. Like Carolina Angela de la Garza Dewitt, the wife of the city’s founder and namesake of San Angelo, this awardee represents innovation, dedication, and a lasting impact on the community.
Captain Albert Tijerina Jr. Trailblazer Award
The recipient of this award is Rick De Hoyos, Attorney at Law, a bold leader making a significant impact in San Angelo. This honor reflects the pioneering spirit of Captain Albert Tijerina Jr., a figure of courage, leadership, and unwavering service to both community and country.
Eva Camuñez Tucker Service Award
We are proud to honor John Fuentes, owner of Fuentes Cafe Downtown, for his remarkable volunteerism and commitment to preserving Hispanic culture. Like Eva Camuñez Tucker, this honoree exemplifies kindness, stewardship, and the selfless dedication to uplifting others through service.
Carol Santry Hispanic Educator Award
This year’s recipient, Joe Gándar, Principal of Lincoln Middle School, is recognized for his devotion to education, cultural understanding, and service. In the spirit of Carol Santry, who dedicated her life to celebrating Hispanic culture through teaching and mentorship, this awardee exemplifies the power of education to build bridges and honor heritage.
Amigo Award
Three recipients —Simon Rincon, owner of Nachos’ Restaurant, Cantina & Grill; Maria Mejia of Concho Valley Turning Point; and Araceli Gutierrez, founder and CEO of Conexión Hispana Internacional —were honored for their significant contributions to fostering understanding and bridging cultural divides in San Angelo.
Luis Urtega, Hispanic Heritage Museum & Cultural Center Vice President, introduced moderator, Senora Scott, KLST-TV, and Valderrama.
In Scott’s hour-long interview with Valderrama, he stated. “The hours you put in preparation make you the most qualified to get the job. I quickly realized the only one who was going to sharpen his tools, the only one who was going to do the preparation, do the homework, spend the hours is you.”
Valderrama’s years of hard work, preparation, and perseverance in the business paid off when the iconic character Fez he created got him hired for that role in ‘That ’70s Show.”
The Fez character got Valderrama nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Television Series. In 2019, Wilmer won the Image Award for Best Actor in the CBS show, NCIS.
After the interview, Valderrama was presented with a 14,400-piece Lego Portrait by Nicholas Navarro.
Below are the names of the SAHHM&CC Board members.
Manny Campos, President
Luis Urteaga, Vice President
Monette Molinar, Secretary
Monica Ramos, Parliamentarian
Rudy Munoz, Treasurer
Hilda Jewell, Michelle Ybarra, Sarah Hernandez, Monica Robles, Carlos Rodriguez, Jesse Sanchez, Lisa De Hoyos, Blanca De La Rosa, Dorothy Borden, Carina Sturgeon, Al Torres, Thomas Rodriguez, Joanna Leos Ornelas, and our Immediate Past President, Del Velasquez.