Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month with Scholarships

Former Hardin-Simmons University Board Member, Homero Gonzalez had a deep commitment to the future of young people and was an advocate for Christian higher education. 

Homero Gonzalez

“He encouraged so many young people to attend HSU, advised them on scholarships available, and encouraged them to set goals and to simply be the best they could be,” his wife Jacqueline shared in a 2001 Range Rider. 

Upon his passing in 1995, Gonzalez’s family established a scholarship in his memory. The scholarship continues to benefit students seeking higher education in business, with preference given to students who identify as Hispanic. 

Gonzalez retired from the U.S. Air Force at the rank of Lt. Col. after 21 years and continued to serve his community in various roles.  As early as 1978, The Brand advertised Gonzalez as a guest speaker on campus for student events. 

He was involved in the Abilene community as a member of the nominating committee for the Citizens for Better Government, the Texas Employment Commission advisory council 1984-1992, the Kiwanis Club of Abilene, the Abilene Chamber of Commerce Military Affairs Committee, the U.S. Air Force Association, and the Abilene Institute of Banking. In addition, Gonzalez was president of the Mexican American Citizens for Success and served on many boards, including HSU’s. Gonzalez was Vice President of Cash Management, Correspondent Banking, and Security, and spent 23 years with First National Bank of Abilene. 

Scott Dueser, chairman and CEO of First Financial Bank, shared in 2001, “I can think of no better way to honor the life of this fine man than by supporting a scholarship that will live throughout the life of HSU, an institution Gonzalez loved.” 

Homero Gonzalez passed away October 13, 1995, and he continues to positively impact Hardin-Simmons University students. 

Jorge Del-Rio is the current recipient of the Homero A. Gonzalez Endowed Memorial Scholarship. Del-Rio is a senior computer science and business major from Groesbeck, TX. 

Del-Rio shared that because of the family atmosphere and student-staff connectedness, he knew HSU was a place he could call home. This year, Del-Rio will wrap up his senior year with people who have become like family, as he plays his final season of football and serves as president of Theta Alpha Zeta. 

Jorge Del-Rio

As a first-generation college student, Del-Rio expressed gratitude toward his hard-working parents for their sacrifices over the years. 

“My mother was born in Lubbock and would work long hours in the fields with her mother until her late 20s, later going back to school to get her GED. My father made it through middle school in Cuba before coming to the states in the late 1980s, and worked hard for every penny he earned,” he shared. “Eventually he found my mom, and together they found a stable place to raise a family. The struggles my family went through to get me where I am at allowed me to become a first-generation college student and opened doors to my future that I couldn’t imagine were possible.” 

Del-Rio hopes to someday open his own IT firm to provide jobs for others and share the values he has learned at HSU with others.  

“Receiving this award gave me even more motivation to accomplish my goals because it proved to me that there is someone who believes in the dreams that I have put forth,” stated Del-Rio.