Garza, Guerra, Rocha, Haynes-Ramirez, Navarro, Ornelas, Sanchez,
Hinojosa, & García named Nixon High School Mustang Legends

Nixon High School recently named nine former alums to the Mustang Legends, honoring them at a reception at the International Bank of Commerce and at pre-game ceremonies at the annual Nixon-Martin football game at Shirley Stadium. The announcement was made earlier this month by NHS Principal Sylvia Rios.
The 2002 inductees, who will be added to a roster of 31 other former students, include Border Patrol Chief Oscar H. Garza, Jr. ('65), LareDOS publisher María Eugenia Guerra ('66), lifetime educators Hector Rocha ('66) and Cynthia Haynes Ramirez ('70), IBC CFO Imelda Navarro ('76), Municipal Court Judge Alfonso Ornelas ('84), Nixon Athletic Department's Martín Sanchez ('84), physician Dr. Armando Hinojosa ('86), and engineer Katherine M. García ('88).
"Mustang Legends are former students who continue to be successful with their accomplishments, achievements, and contributions during and after their high school days," said Rios. "With their pro-active actions and community service they have become true ambassadors and representatives of their school's traditions and ideals. The continuous community involvement becomes a beacon of hope and goodwill that illuminates their alma mater."
Oscar H. Garza, Jr., is an assistant Chief Patrol Agent for the United States Border Patrol. A member of the first graduating class of Nixon High School (1965), Garza is a 32-year veteran of government service. He served for two years in the U.S Army and Central Army Group (NATO) during the Vietnam era. He holds a degree in Business Administration from Texas A&I at Laredo. He is senior manager for many of the USBP's school programs including Youth of the Month, Youth of the Year, and Head of the Class. Garza has been recognized for volunteerism by the U.S. Attorney General, Gateway Rotary, LULAC, and as a distinguished alum of Laredo Community College. Garza serves on the board of the South Texas Alzheimer's Organization, the Laredo Elderly Services, the Laredo Regional Food Bank, United Way of Laredo, and Mercy Health Center. He and his wife Zulema M. Garza are the parents of Annabelle Victoria Garza De Leon; Oscar H. Garza III; and Melissa Yvette Garza. They are the grandparents of Victoria Annabelle De Leon of San Antonio.
María Eugenia Guerra is the CEO of ShuString Productions, Inc., which publishes LareDOS, a monthly alternative newsjournal that has been in print since 1994. Guerra, a San Ygnacio rancher, is a 1966 graduate of Nixon High School. At Nixon, she was the first and second editor of the Pony Express. Guerra holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from Southwest Texas State University. She is a member of the Association of Women Journalists and has been nominated to the board of directors of the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas. An environmentalist and a social activist, she is the mother of George J. Altgelt, a second-year law student in San Antonio.
Lifetime educator Hector Rocha is a 1966 graduate of NHS. He holds a BA in physical science and a Master’s in Secondary Education. He has taught physical education and has served the Laredo Independent School District as a counselor at Nixon and assistant principal at Cigarroa High School. He is a Vietnam era veteran who served in the Navy two years. He retired from education in 2002. He is married to Aida Rocha, and they are the parents of Melinda and Michael Rocha.
Cynthia Ann Haynes Ramirez, a 1970 graduate, has taught at Nixon High School since 1980. She is a 1979 graduate of Laredo State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in political science and history. She is the director of the Mustang Cheerleaders and the Golden Spurs. She is the 1998 recipient of the Ford Foundation Excellence in Education Award, the 1999 recipient of the WBCA President's Merit Award, and the 2001 UT Exes Outstanding Teachers Nominee. Haynes Ramirez serves on the board of Bosom Buddies, Border Olympics, and the Washington's Birthday Celebration Association. Since 1996 she has been the director of the WBCA Youth Dance Festival. Cynthia is married to Francisco Ramirez. They are the parents of Eric Michael and Kristina Ramirez.
Imelda Navarro, a graduate of the Class of 1976, is the senior executive vice-president of the International Bank of Commerce, for which she also serves as CFO, COO, and director of the board. She is responsible for the management of accounting functions for IBC's holding company, International Bancshares Corporation. She began her 25-year career with IBC as a 16-year-old file clerk through Nixon's vocational program. She holds a BBA in accounting from Laredo State University. She serves on the boards of the Laredo Center for the Arts, the Domestic Violence Coalition, the Executive Club, and La Casa de Misericordia.
Municipal Court Judge Alfonso (Boyer) Ornelas is a 1984 NHS graduate. He and his two siblings are all licensed attorneys. At Nixon, he excelled in debate, the Presidential Classroom, Boys State, and Student Council. He is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin and a law school graduate of Oklahoma City University. A solo practitioner, he has served as City Attorney for the City of Río Bravo and assistant Municipal Court Judge for the City of Laredo. He was elected Municipal Court Judge in June 2001. He and his wife Adriana Selina Ornelas are the parents of Alejandra Selina Ornelas and Alfonso H. Ornelas III.
Martin Sanchez, a graduate of the Nixon Class of 1984, first came on board at J.W. Nixon in 1988 as a teacher’s aide under Principal Viola Moore. Known as "Buddy" to former classmates, teammates, coaches, and countless sports participants, Sanchez represented Nixon in the Special Olympics in basketball and track. He won a second place trophy in baseball and a first place medal in track. He has assisted and continues to assist Nixon High School coaches in baseball, basketball, and football.
Physician Armando R. Hinojosa, a 1986 Nixon graduate, graduated cum laude in 1992 with two degrees from Texas A&I University in Kingsville, one in psychology and another in biology, with a minor in chemistry. He is a 1994 graduate of the Southern Illinois School of Medicine and completed his medical studies in 1998 from Southern Illinois University School of Medicine. He completed his residence in internal medicine at the University of Texas Health Science Center in 2001. Dr Hinojosa practices at the Gateway Health Center on Saunders. He is married to Cindy.
Class of 1988 top-ten graduate and former cheerleader Katherine M. García is a 1993 graduate of Texas A&M University in College Station. She lives in Houston where she is a sales engineer for Aeriform Corporation. She is also an instructor in turbo kickboxing in Houston.
Former inductees of the Mustang Legends include Elma T. Salinas Ender, Dr. Henry Cuellar, Dr. Rebecca Uribe Garza, Joe Rubio, Isaias Garza, Dr. Jane C. Unzeitig, Melissa C. Cigarroa, Pete Astudillo, Jorge Haynes, Carlos Carranco, Dr. Homero Sanchez, Dr. Josie Uribe Hudson, Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez, Xavier Cantu, Horacio Acevedo, Cynthia Conchas, Jerry Schwebel, Hank Sames, Larry Haynes, Devon Peña, Dr. Leo Cigarroa, Janice Fitzgibbon Bragg, Brad Jackson, Rosa María R. Vida, Rosaura Rodriguez, Carlos Castillon, Dr. Dennis Cantu, Dr. Danny Saenz, Freddy Benavides, Claudia Lanese, and Bryan Novoa. The Nixon Legends is a tradition established in 1993.