WBCA bestowed one of its most distinguished honors, the
Order of the Red Men Spirit Award, on longtime community leader and volunteer,
Candy Hein. This award recognizes Hein’s more than 45 years of dedicated service to the WBCA, along with decades of leadership and volunteerism with other Laredo organizations, including the Society of Martha Washington and the International Good Neighbor Council.
For Candy Hein, a life of service means looking beyond oneself and working for the good of others. She believes the bonds that hold a community together are as strong as those of a family, a belief that has guided her throughout her lifetime of volunteerism, leadership and advocacy.
One of Hein’s greatest influences was her beloved aunt, Velia E. Uribe, the WBCA’s first woman president. Inspired by her aunt’s dedication to the community, Hein followed her example through decades of service to local organizations and a distinguished career in education.
Teachers also played an important role in shaping Hein’s commitment to service. Their example inspired her to become an educator, and she carried those values throughout her career as a public-school teacher, administrator, and university vice president. In each role, she focused on helping students succeed while strengthening the broader education community here in Laredo.
Hein’s legacy with the WBCA spans more than four decades. She has served on numerous committees and was an active member of the WBCA Board since the 1980s. Her contributions include chairing the inaugural poster committee and the carnival, organizing the first Media Day, leading membership campaigns, selling advertisements for the association’s program book, working on the International Bridge Ceremony, and assisting with numerous Mr. South Texas Luncheons. She was elected WBCA treasurer in 1993 and second vice president in 1994.
Her commitment to service has earned her recognition from organizations throughout Laredo and beyond. In the 1980s, Hein received the Outstanding Service Award from the March of Dimes, Civic Worker of the Year from Kiwanis, the Liberty Bell Award from the Laredo Bar Association and Laredo Young Lawyers Association, and the President’s Merit Award from WBCA.
Among her most memorable honors was her appointment by Texas Governor Mark White to the Texas Commission for Women, where she served from 1985 to 1987. In 1989, she was named Laredoan of the Year by the Laredo Morning Times.
Her service continued throughout the 1990s, bringing additional recognition from across the community. United Way honored her with the Billy F. Cowart Award, the Laredo Boys and Girls Club named her Board Member of the Year, and the Laredo Chamber of Commerce recognized her as an Outstanding Director and presented her with its Meritorious Service Award.
In the 2000s, Hein received the Service Above Self Award from the Laredo Rotary Club. More recently, she was presented with the Excellence Award by the International Good Neighbor Council. Together, these honors reflect the countless hours, generous support, and steadfast commitment she has given to the Laredo community.
Hein is also a founding member of Communities in Schools, the Laredo Area Community Foundation and, most recently, the Laredo Parkinson’s Support Group. Through each of these efforts, she has continued a lifelong commitment to building and strengthening the community she loves.
Today, Hein remains actively involved in efforts to make Laredo a better place. Her family takes great pride in her extraordinary record of service and is grateful that she continues to give her time, leadership and heart to the community.