Honorees

Matias de Llano Memorial Awards

The Matias de Llano Memorial Award is presented annually by the president of the WBCA to a director in recognition for service to the Association, for efforts to improve committee work and for service and time devoted. This is the top honor that can be received by a director.

2025 Eileen Andrade-Martinez
2024 Scott Payne
2023 Bryon “Andy” Alford
2022 Rosa Cruz
2022 Emmanuel Guajardo
2020 Jose Eduardo "Pepe" Garcia
2020 Lisa Zuñiga
2019 David Ramos
2018 Fernando Montemayor
2017 Jerry Lara
2016 Natalie Hernandez
2015 Matthew Gibson
2015 Mike Marasco
2015 Bobby Peregoy
2014 Fred Santos
2013 Cordelia Valdez
2013 Rochelle Gonzalez
2012 Nydia Weathers
2011 Norma Moore
2010 Eddie Villarreal
2009 Evelyn Sames Cain
2009 Jay Puig
2008 J.R. "Bob" Weathers
2007 Patricia Guajardo
2006 Jose A. Palacios, Jr.
2005 Glenn W. Pruess, II
2004 Jim B. Kelley
2004 Glenn W. Pruess, II
2003 Minita Ramirez
2002 Randall S. Blair
2001 Eloy Cantu
2000 Veronica Castillon
1999 Ernest J. Mora
1998 Robert Summers
1997 Aladar "Ito" Deutsch
1996 Tony Treviño
1995 Melissa C. Cigarroa
1995 Steve LaMantia
1994 Nancy S. Blair
1993 Carlos Garza
1992 Edward Macdonald
1992 Richard Powell
1992 Sabas Zapata, III
1991 Glen S. Jackson
1990 J. Jorge Verduzco
1989 William Alexander
1988 Lester Powell
1987 Rex H. Ball
1986 Fernando Zuñiga, III
1985 Blas M. Martinez
1984 LULAC Council #12
1983 John H. Keck
1982 George G. Gregg
1981 John Puig
1980 Edward J. Hughes
1979 Mike Perez
1978 W.R. Powell
1977 Frank Staggs
1976 G.E. Glassford
1975 Harold Goodwin
1974 Renato Zapata, Jr.
1973 Velia Uribe
1972 Jose L. Gonzalez
1971 Roberto Flores

President’s Merit Awards

The President's Merit Award is presented annually by the president of the WBCA to a member of the Association in recognition for exceptional service in committee work and promotion of the Celebration. This is the top honor that can be bestowed by the WBCA to a member.

2025 Anna Lizeth Sanchez
2025 David Ovalle
2024 Jesse Gonzalez
2023 Dario Gutierrez III
2022 Gilbert Bermea
2020 Jaime Fuentes
2019 Anabella Herbig
2019 Monica Lopez
2018 Rafael Martinez
2017 Albert Salinas
2016 Sara A. Melendez
2015 Juan Pablo Bolaños
2015 Rochelle Gonzalez
2015 Norma Moore
2014 Mike Marasco
2014 Amelia Bravo
2014 Anita Cavazos
2013 Jerry Lara
2013 Randy Blair
2012 Matthew Gibson
2012 Fred Santos
2012 AnnaIsabel Alvarez
2011 Dr. Marcus Nelson
2010 Veronica Castillon
2010 Dan Ryan
2009 Natalie Hernandez
2009 IBC Volunteers
2008 Chief Carlos Carrillo
2008 Roberto Murillo
2007 Carlos Garza
2007 Dan Ryan
2007 J.R. "Bob" Weathers
2006 Celinda Gonzalez
2005 Anselmo Castro, Jr.
2004 Senator Judith Zaffirini
2003 Nick M. Reyna
2002 Mary Lamar Leyendecker
2002 Jose A. Palacios, Jr.
2002 Richard R. Valls, Jr.
2002 Lisa Zuñiga
2001 Amelia Bravo
2001 Olga P. Gentry
2001 Ramon Diez-Barroso
2000 D.J. Utterback
1999 Minerva G. Ramirez
1999 Lisa Zuñiga
1999 Cynthia Haynes Rodriguez
1998 Arturo Barrera
1997 Patricia Guajardo
1997 Rosie Hearn
1997 Rosie Macdonald
1996 Diane Gates
1996 Linda LaMantia
1995 Anthony Treviño, Jr.
1995 Randall S. Blair
1995 Rosa Maria Vida
1994 Leonard Martin
1993 Richard Noriega
1993 Linda Bruni
1993 Minerva G. Ramirez
1992 Linda LaMantia
1991 Victor Oliveros
1990 Carol Sherwood
1989 Jose Compean
1989 Daniel Andrade
1988 Edward Macdonald
1987 James Parish, Jr.
1986 J. Jorge Verduzco
1986 Manuel Guerra
1985 Candy Hein
1983 Minerva G. Ramirez
1983 Blas M. Martinez
1982 Bill McDonald
1981 Arturo Gutierrez
1980 Mario Sanchez

Joseph Netzer Awards

The Joseph Netzer Award is presented annually to a director or directors, who have gone above and beyond the call of duty to provide the president of WBCA with assistance in achieving a successful year. The award is names after WBCA's first president, who initially headed the Celebration in 1898 and seven times thereafter.

2025 Ignacio “Nacho” De La Miyar
2024 Abner "AB" Miranda
2024 Monica Ayala
2023 Rafael Martinez
2023 Nydia Weathers
2022 David Ramos
2020 Marcus Sepulveda
2019 Bryon "Andy" Alford
2018 Nydia Weathers
2017 Norma Moore
2016 Jesse Gonzalez
2015 Randy Blair
2015 Anita Cavazos
2015 Lisa Zuñiga
2014 Jerry Lara
2014 Avery Jackson
2013 Greg Kahn
2013 Fred Santos
2012 Robert J. Peregoy
2011 Nancy Brice
2011 Christina Dovalina
2010 Adrienne G. Treviño
2009 Dr. Joseph B. Castellano
2008 Hector "Tito" Garcia
2008 Victor Garcia
2007 Veronica Castillon
2007 Glenn W. Preuss, II
2007 Eddie Villarreal
2006 Cordelia Valdez
2005 Patricia Guajardo
2005 Christopher C. Peterson
2005 Robert H. Summers
2005 J.R. "Bob" Weathers
2004 Melissa C. Cigarroa
2003 Steve V. Jackson
2002 Anselmo Castro, Jr.
2001 Linda LaMantia
2000 Thomas A. Gates
2000 David Cardwell