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TEJANO MONUMENT TRAILBLAZER RENATO RAMIREZ HONORED

Saturday, April 08, 2017

Tejano Genealogical Society of Austin recognizes IBC Bank for its contributions

 
The fifth anniversary of the Tejano Monument, which immortalizes the Tejano culture with nine life-size statues that now stand on the south lawn of the Texas Capitol grounds, was celebrated with a festive gathering today. Gov. Greg Abbot was among the dignitaries saluting the key role IBC Bank and Renato Ramirez, CEO of IBC Bank in Zapata, played in fundraising the $1.3 million dollar endeavor that brought together The General Land Office, the State Preservation Board, the Texas Historical Commission, the Tejano Genealogy Society, IBC Bank and the University of Texas to commemorate Tejano heritage.
 
The all-day celebration welcomed historians, teachers and supporters to take part at the Mexican-American History Symposium, Tejano Monument Anniversary Ceremony and culminating with a concert, The Evolution of Tejano Music.
 
"We were in need of positive art around the state house commemorating Tejanos in Texas," Ramirez said. "Now, nearly 500 years after the mapping of the Texas coast by Alonzo Alvarez de Pineda in 1519, and 175 years after Tejanos Jose Francisco Ruiz, Jose Antonio Navarro and Lorenzo de Zavala signed the Texas Declaration of Independence in 1836, the Tejano culture and its contributions to Texas' evolution, is officially recognized by the state."
 
Sculptor Armando Hinojosa, based in Laredo, was commissioned to create the monument that is now on the Texas Capitol Grounds. The Tejano Monument immortalizes the contribution of Tejanos to Texas Culture and Texas History. The Spanish explorer looking to a bright future in Texas, the longhorn bull and cow, originally brought to Texas by Spaniards, indicative of a productive future of the cattle industry, the vaquero on his mustang representing the contribution of Tejano Vaqueros to the cowboy culture in Texas, the Mexican couple with an infant child, the young boy with a goat, the young girl with her lamb, all indicating the Tejano family unit taming the wild lands of Texas.
 
"I'm proud to be part of the creation of this statue that celebrates cultural diversity and pride," Ramirez said. "We want little Tejanitos to see something they can be proud of when they visit Austin."
 
A tireless advocate of the Tejano culture, Ramirez was recently honored with the Premio Letras de Aztlan Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Association for Chicana and Chicano Studies-Tejas Foco. This commendation highlighted his work with the Tejano Monument and his dedication to the educational improvement of Mexican-American students. Further demonstrating Ramirez's commitment to the culture, he was named El Padrino de Mariachi Music de Tejas by the University of Texas Butler School of Music.
 
Following the ceremony, Rep. Richard Raymond, Sen. Judith Zaffirini and IBC Bank hosted a reception in honor of those involved with the Tejano Monument.
 
IBC Bank is a division of International Bancshares Corporation (NASDAQ: IBOC), an $11.8 billion multi-bank financial holding company headquartered in Laredo, Texas, with 194 facilities and more than 307 ATMs serving 87 communities in Texas and Oklahoma. In 2016, IBC celebrated its 50th anniversary since it opened its doors for business in 1966. IBC Bank was ranked 46th on Forbes' prestigious list of 100 Best Banks in America in 2017. IBC Bank's commitment to "Do More" reflects the bank's dedication to the growth and success of both the customers and the communities it serves. Visit us on our YouTube channel, IBCBankWeDoMore. MEMBER FDIC / INTERNATIONAL BANCSHARES CORPORATION. More information is available at ibc.com.