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Laredo Convention and Visitors Bureau - Press Releases and News
WBCA Names Mr. South Texas 2011
Celina Alvarado
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LAREDO, TX. July 21, 2010 - WBCA Names Mr. South Texas 2011.
The Washington’s Birthday Celebration Association (WBCA) has announced that the Honorable Joe Straus, Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives, has been selected as Mr. South Texas 2011 for the 114th Washington’s Birthday Celebration. The formal announcement was made during a press conference held this morning at the BBVA Compass Plaza Tower in downtown Laredo, hosted by BBVA Compass.
The Mr. South Texas designation is presented to a deserving individual worthy of the award who has made a significant and lasting contribution to the growth and development of Laredo and the South Texas region.
The Mr. South Texas Selection Committee, comprised of past presidents of the WBCA and former Mr. South Texas recipients who reside in Laredo, meet several times during the year to discuss possible candidates. The committee members take effort in creating an all-inclusive nominating pool of candidates from all walks of life who have made a significant impact on the area.
Anselmo “Chemo” Castro, Jr., Chairperson for this year’s Mr. South Texas Selection Committee and WBCA Ex-Officio affirms, “Speaker Straus continues an excellent Mr. South Texas lineage that dates back to 1952 and, like his predecessors, exemplifies the qualities and standards that the selection committee strives for. His words and actions as the Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives have played a direct part in improving the quality of life for South Texas and its families.”
The Honorable Joe Straus was elected Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives by his peers at the commencement of the 81st Regular Legislative Session on January 13, 2009. His first session as Speaker was widely viewed as a success as legislators reduced taxes, set aside billions in a rainy day fund, and invested more money in priorities including education, college scholarships, and health care. A strong fiscal conservative, Speaker Straus believes in limited government, low taxes, and spending restraint. His priorities for the state include promoting economic development, attracting new business and talent to Texas, and ensuring that our children are educated and equipped to meet the demands of the 21st century.
Speaker Straus understands the hopes and concerns of parents, business leaders, and community members in his district and across the state of Texas. In addition to serving as Speaker, he represents San Antonio's 121st District, which includes the Bexar County communities of Alamo Heights, Olmos Park, Terrell Hills, Windcrest, and northeast San Antonio. Speaker Straus was first elected to the Texas House of Representatives in a special election in February 2005 (79th Regular Session).
During his service in the Legislature, Speaker Straus has been a leader on economic issues, common sense tax relief, and energy efficiency measures. In the 2007 Legislative Session, Speaker Straus served on the Committee on Economic Development as Vice Chairman, the Committee on Regulated Industries, and the Committee on Local and Consent Calendars. In 2007, he authored legislation eliminating the Telecommunications Infrastructure Fund tax, saving consumers more than $200 million a year in taxes. In addition to presiding over the Texas House, Speaker Straus serves as the co-chair of the Legislative Budget Board, the State Preservation Board, the Legislative Audit Committee, and the Texas Legislative Council. He is one of five members on the Legislative Redistricting Board. Speaker Straus also serves as a member of the Texas House Republican Caucus.
As a lifelong Republican, Speaker Straus has served on numerous campaign committees for federal, state, and local candidates, as a precinct chairman, and on the Management Committee of the Bexar County Republican Party. In 1986, he was U.S. Representative Lamar Smith's campaign manager in Smith's first race for Congress. Early in his career, he worked in public service in the administrations of President Ronald Reagan and President George H. W. Bush.
Speaker Straus is a San Antonio native and a fifth-generation Texan. A graduate of Vanderbilt University, he has an insurance, investments, and executive benefits practice. Speaker Straus is an avid sportsman with a passion for Thoroughbred horses. He and his wife Julie have two daughters.
Speaker Straus said, "Thank you for the tremendous honor of being named Mr. South Texas 2011. Having grown up in San Antonio, I have experienced the rich history and international traditions of the Washington's Birthday Celebration. Laredo and this region are special places to me and my family, and I am always proud to represent South Texas."
Together with the Mr. South Texas designation, Speaker Straus becomes a member of Los Caballeros de la Republica del Rio Grande. This select group of national and international distinguished men and women are honored for their dedication and countless hours of service and support to the Washington’s Birthday Celebration each year by an official induction ceremony and presentation of the Caballero Medallion.
“As the 114th President of the Washington Birthday Celebration Association I am excited that Speaker Straus has accepted to be the 61st recipient of the Mr. South Texas designation,” said WBCA President, Susan Foster. “Straus is committed to see that South Texas continues to be recognized as a leader in Texas. His priorities for the state include promoting economic development, attracting new business and talent to Texas, and ensuring that our children are educated and equipped to meet the demands of the 21st century, all of which are extremely important to us here on the border. I congratulate him on receiving this most prestigious award.”
One of the most celebrated and illustrious WBCA events is the Mr. South Texas Luncheon attended each year by dignitaries and honored guests from both the United States and Mexico. This year’s luncheon will take place on Saturday, February 19, 2011 at 12 p.m. at the Laredo Country Club. BBVA Compass graciously sponsors the event.
“BBVA Compass has been a proud sponsor of the Mr. South Texas Luncheon for many years and joins the leaders of our community and state in congratulating the distinguished 2011 Mr. South Texas and the staff and volunteers of WBCA on an outstanding annual celebration,” said Giampaolo Consigliere, City President for BBVA Compass.
The Washington’s Birthday Celebration, founded in 1898, is the largest Celebration of its kind in the nation. The month-long festivities attract nearly half-a-million attendees each year contributing to an estimated $14 million to the local economy. Events include an eye-opening fireworks display, lively parades, majestic pageants, an elegant night of wine tasting, a thrilling air show, a carnival that offers exhilarating rides and games, a Mardi-Gras style street party and one of the hottest events in the nation…the internationally-renowned Jalapeño Festival. It truly is “The Celebration with Something for Everyone!”
The 114th Washington’s Birthday Celebration will take place from January 20 through February 20, 2011.
For additional information email us at wbca@wbcalaredo.org or contact the WBCA office at (956) 722-0589 or visit us at 1819 E. Hillside Road in Laredo, TX.
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Celina Alvarado
Public Relations & Marketing Manager
Washington's Birthday Celebration Association
1819 E. Hillside Rd. ~ Laredo, TX 78041
V (956)722-0589 ~ F (956) 722-5528 ~ M (956) 286-WBCA (9222)
www.wbcalaredo.org
publicity@wbcalaredo.org
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7/21/2010
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