Stories from the Rio Grande

The Museum of South Texas History hosted the spotlight exhibit "Hometown Heroes of South Texas: A Veterans Day Exhibit" during November 2022. Exhibits & Collections Coordinator Melissa Peña curated this exhibit with personal items from four veterans: Gina Guajardo, Jerry Arteaga, José Villarreal and Jessica Villarreal. The veterans also shared their stories through a video produced by the MOSTHistory Communications team, which inspired more recordings of other individuals with similar experiences. This podcast season will feature veterans from across South Texas. In this fourth episode of season five, Communications Officer Pamela Morales de Hendricks and Exhibits & Collections Coordinator Melissa Peña discuss the exhibit and the veterans who were featured. Photos of the spotlight exhibit, "Hometown Heroes of South Texas: A Veteran's Day Exhibit" -- https://mosthistory.org/photo-gallery

The Museum of South Texas History hosted the spotlight exhibit "Hometown Heroes of South Texas: A Veterans Day Exhibit" during November 2022. Exhibits & Collections Coordinator Melissa Peña curated this exhibit with personal items from four veterans: Gina Guajardo, Jerry Arteaga, José Villarreal and Jessica Villarreal. The veterans also shared their stories through a video produced by the MOSTHistory Communications team, which inspired more recordings of other individuals with similar experiences. This podcast season will feature veterans from across South Texas. In this fourth episode of season five, Communications Officer Pamela Morales de Hendricks and Exhibits & Collections Coordinator Melissa Peña discuss the exhibit and the veterans who were featured. Photos of the spotlight exhibit, "Hometown Heroes of South Texas: A Veteran's Day Exhibit" -- https://mosthistory.org/photo-gallery/

The Museum of South Texas History hosted the spotlight exhibit "Hometown Heroes of South Texas: A Veterans Day Exhibit" during November 2022. Exhibits & Collections Coordinator Melissa Peña curated this exhibit with personal items from four veterans: Gina Guajardo, Jerry Arteaga, José Villarreal and Jessica Villarreal. The veterans also shared their stories through a video produced by the MOSTHistory Communications team, which inspired more recordings of other individuals with similar experiences. This podcast season will feature veterans from across South Texas. In this third episode of season five, Communications Officer Pamela Morales de Hendricks and Exhibits & Collections Coordinator Melissa Peña discuss the exhibit and the veterans who were featured. View the Hometown Heroes of South Texas spotlight exhibit photos -- https://mosthistory.org/photo-gallery/

The Museum of South Texas History hosted the spotlight exhibit "Hometown Heroes of South Texas: A Veterans Day Exhibit" during November 2022. Exhibits & Collections Coordinator Melissa Peña curated this exhibit with personal items from four veterans: Gina Guajardo, Jerry Arteaga, José Villarreal and Jessica Villarreal. The veterans also shared their stories through a video produced by the MOSTHistory Communications team, which inspired more recordings of other individuals with similar experiences. This podcast season will feature veterans from across South Texas. In this second episode of season five, Communications Officer Pamela Morales de Hendricks interviews veteran Juan Ramon Garcia, who participated in the Vietnam War. This interview took place in the VFW in McAllen, Texas.

Warning: This interview contains descriptive war scenes that may be uncomfortable for some listeners. Listener discretion is advised. The Museum of South Texas History hosted the spotlight exhibit "Hometown Heroes of South Texas: A Veterans Day Exhibit" during November 2022. Exhibits & Collections Coordinator Melissa Peña curated this exhibit with personal items from four veterans: Gina Guajardo, Jerry Arteaga, José Villarreal and Jessica Villarreal. The veterans also shared their stories through a video produced by the MOSTHistory Communications team, which inspired more recordings of other individuals with similar experiences. This podcast season will feature veterans from across South Texas. In this first episode of season five, Communications Officer Pamela Morales de Hendricks interviews veteran Reynaldo Leal, who enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in the early 2000s. He shares stories on joining the military and participating in the Iraq War. Currently he lives in the Rio Grande Valley with his family. Links to Reynaldo's work: Instagram IMDb Self-portrait at The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston

Warning: This interview contains language that may not be suitable for children (there's a beeped version available here), and it also contains descriptive war scenes that may be uncomfortable for some listeners. Listener discretion is advised. The Museum of South Texas History hosted the spotlight exhibit "Hometown Heroes of South Texas: A Veterans Day Exhibit" during November 2022.  Exhibits & Collections Coordinator Melissa Peña curated this exhibit with personal items from four veterans: Gina Guajardo, Jerry Arteaga, José Villarreal and Jessica Villarreal. The veterans also shared their stories through a video produced by the MOSTHistory Communications team, which inspired more recordings of other individuals with similar experiences. This podcast season will feature veterans from across South Texas. In this first episode of season five, Communications Officer Pamela Morales de Hendricks interviews veteran Reynaldo Leal, who enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in the early 2000s. He shares stories on joining the military and participating in the Iraq War. Currently he lives in the Rio Grande Valley with his family. Links to Reynaldo's work: Instagram IMDb Self-portrait at The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston

In the fourth season of "Stories from the Rio Grande," the local nonprofit Village in the Valley shares how it was created and its missions to "[elevate] and [unite] the Black community while connecting cultures in the Rio Grande Valley." Through this virtual platform, MOSTHistory will use the terms African American and Black interchangeably. In this episode, Matthew Pollock discusses how he became part of the grassroots effort to establish the Village in the Valley organization--and teaching his children to become multicultural. Learn more about Village in the Valley by visiting the website at https://villageinthevalley.org and following the organization on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/Villageinthevalleyrgv) and/or Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/vivargv). This podcast was made possible by the Betty Stieren Kelso Foundation. Thanks for listening to "Stories from the Rio Grande," a podcast by MOSTHistory.

In the fourth season of "Stories from the Rio Grande," the local nonprofit Village in the Valley shares how it was created and its missions to "[elevate] and [unite] the Black community while connecting cultures in the Rio Grande Valley." In this episode, co-founders of Village in the Valley Theresa Gatling and Marsha Terry discuss how the organization formed and sharing experiences on living in the Rio Grande Valley. Learn more about Village in the Valley by visiting the website at https://villageinthevalley.org and following the organization on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/Villageinthevalleyrgv) and/or Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/vivargv). This podcast was made possible by the Betty Stieren Kelso Foundation. Thanks for listening to "Stories from the Rio Grande," a podcast by MOSTHistory. Through this virtual platform, MOSTHistory will use the terms African American and Black interchangeably.

The Museum of South Texas History turned 50 in 2020 but, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it concludes its celebrations in April 2021. During the month of April, the MOSTHistory Communications team will publish a five-episode series with current and former staff members, and a tribute to Visitors Services host Sandra Luna, who died of COVID complications in July 2020. This episode features former staff member Lisa Adam, the curator of collections. She shares some stories about the museum's valuable collections, the creative process in producing educational programming and some of the people who volunteered at the museum. Thanks for listening to "Stories from the Rio Grande," a podcast by MOSTHistory.

The Museum of South Texas History turned 50 in 2020 but, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it concludes its celebrations in April 2021. During the month of April, the MOSTHistory Communications team will publish a five-episode series with current and former staff members, and a tribute to Visitors Services host Sandra Luna, who died of COVID complications in July 2020. This episode features former staff member Judy McClelland, the former Education Officer. She shares some stories about the school tours, puppet shows and what she hopes for the museum in the next 50 years. Thanks for listening to "Stories from the Rio Grande," a podcast by MOSTHistory.

MOSTHistory: Stories from the Rio Grande will highlight the history and heritage of South Texas and northeastern Mexico with interviews featuring those who  live in the borderland region. In final episode of season two, the son of Eddie Lucio Jr. talks about the family dynamics of a father and son working as Texas state elected officials. Here are some photographs of the father and son: https://mosthistory.org/stories-from-the-rio-grande-eddie-lucio-iii/ For inquiries or suggestions, please send an e-mail to mosthistorymarketing@gmail.com.

MOSTHistory:  Stories from the Rio Grande will highlight the history and heritage of South Texas and northeastern Mexico with interviews featuring those who live in the borderland region. In this episode, Reba Cardenas McNair, the daughter of former two elected officials--one city commissioner and one school board trustee--shares the stories of her parents overcoming challenges to provide opportunities for their communities and their family. Here is a great video about the Cardenas family accomplishments: https://youtu.be/OKqaNfguZZ8  For inquiries or suggestions, please send an e-mail to mosthistorymarketing@gmail.com.

MOSTHistory: Stories from the Rio Grande will highlight the history and heritage of South Texas and northeastern Mexico with interviews featuring those who live in the borderland region. In this episode of season two, the sons of Alfonso "Al Ramirez" talk about their father's mayoral term, political activism and other accomplishments. Al Ramirez was the first Hispanic mayor of Edinburg voted into office in the 1960s. Here are some of the photographs from the Al Ramirez Collection: https://mosthistory.org/stories-from-the-rio-grande-ramirez-brothers/ For inquiries or suggestions, please send an e-mail to mosthistorymarketing@gmail.com. 

MOSTHistory:  Stories from the Rio Grande will highlight the history and heritage of South Texas and northeastern Mexico with interviews featuring the many people who live in the borderland region. In this episode of season two, Ruben Villarreal, the former Rio Grande City mayor, talks about growing up in Rio Grande City, the spirit of the bi-cultural region and how his father's values inspired him to pursue a life in public service. For inquiries or suggestions, please send an e-mail to mosthistorymarketing@gmail.com. 

MOSTHistory: Stories from the Rio Grande will highlight the history and heritage of South Texas and northeastern Mexico with interviews featuring the many people who live in the borderland region. In this first episode of season two, Lita Leo provides an insight of how her family, which is well-known throughout Hidalgo County, became involved in local politics. She also tells a few stories about growing up in a political family and how that affected her and her siblings. See the photo gallery of the Leo family: https://mosthistory.org/stories-from-the-rio-grande-lita-leo/  For inquiries or suggestions, please send an e-mail to mosthistorymarketing@gmail.com.  

MOSTHistory: Stories from the Rio Grande will highlight the history and heritage of South Texas and northeastern Mexico with interviews featuring locals, historians, museum staff members or anyone who might have experienced historical changes in the region.   The first season is "The Lost Empires," a rise-and-fall perspective as told by  Neil Cassady, a former salesman for Griffin & Brand. However, in this final episode, you'll hear from Jimmy Henderson, the owner of Warren Produce in Edinburg, Texas. This final episode concludes "The Lost Empires" and season one of Stories from the Rio Grande.   For inquiries or suggestions, please send an e-mail to mosthistorymarketing@gmail.com.  

MOSTHistory: Stories from the Rio Grande will highlight the history and heritage of South Texas and northeastern Mexico with interviews featuring locals, historians, museum staff members or anyone who might have experienced historical changes in the region. The first season is "The Lost Empires," a rise-and-fall perspective as told by Neil Cassady, a former salesman for Griffin & Brand. In this episode, Neil briefly explains the collapse of the fresh produce industry in the Rio Grande Valley and its effects.

MOSTHistory: Stories from the Rio Grande will highlight the history and heritage of South Texas and northeastern Mexico with interviews featuring locals, historians, museum staff members or anyone who might have experienced historical changes in the region. The first season is "The Lost Empires," a rise-and-fall perspective as told by Neil Cassady, a former salesman for Griffin & Brand. In this episode, Neil details the workings of the Griffin & Brand sales office, the difference between farmers' markets and cooperatives, and when fresh produce salesman traveled with migrants. For inquiries or suggestions, please send an e-mail to mosthistorymarketing@gmail.com.

MOSTHistory: Stories from the Rio Grande will highlight the history and heritage of South Texas and northeastern Mexico with interviews featuring locals, historians, museum staff members or anyone who might have experienced historical changes in the region. The first season is "The Lost Empires," a rise-and-fall perspective as told by Neil Cassady, a museum volunteer. In this episode, Neil discusses the process of getting fresh produce from the farms to packing sheds and, ultimately, to the clients selling produce. For inquiries or suggestions, please send an e-mail to mosthistorymarketing@gmail.com.

MOSTHistory: Stories from the Rio Grande will highlight the history and heritage of South Texas and northeastern Mexico with interviews featuring locals, historians, museum staff members or anyone who might have experienced historical changes in the region The first season is "The Lost Empires," a rise-and-fall perspective as told by Neil Cassady, a museum volunteer. In this pilot episode, you'll learn more about Cassady's life and how he ended up at Griffin and Brand, a former local fresh produce company in the Rio Grande Valley. For inquiries or suggestions, please send an e-mail to mosthistorymarketing@gmail.com.