FEATURED: Janet and Robert Vackar speak to reporters on Thursday, March 21, 2024, following the announcement that the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Stadium, located in Edinburg and which will be home to the UTRGV Vaqueros football team beginning in 2025, has been named in their honor. Video of the event is available online at: https://www.facebook.com/utrgv/videos/429408102888197
Photograph By PAUL CHOUY
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In honor of Vackar family generosity to UTRGV, newly-acquired football stadium in Edinburg named Robert and Janet Vackar Stadium
By PATRICK GONZÁLES
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) announced on Thursday, March 21, 2024, that it is naming its newly-acquired stadium, formerly known as H-E-B Park, the Robert and Janet Vackar Stadium.
On Wednesday, February 28, 2024, UTRGV announced it had acquired H-E-B Park, designating the venue as the primary home for the upcoming Vaqueros football program.
The naming on Thursday, March 21, 2024, which was granted in perpetuity, is in recognition of the Robert and Janet Vackar’s unwavering support of the football program when it was only a vision and their longstanding generosity to the university, including a new $20 million gift that was also announced Thursday.
The Robert and Janet Vackar Stadium will serve as the home of the upcoming Vaqueros football program and will also host a variety of other university events. Both announcements were made during a press conference held on the newly named stadium field.
“Supporting the establishment of a college football program isn’t just about the game; it’s about investing in the future,” Robert Vackar said. “By pouring into the lives of young people through both education and athletics, we ensure they have the tools to succeed and a college experience that attracts new talent to our area and encourages residents to stay here. Retaining students in the Rio Grande Valley not only builds up our community but also fosters major growth and opportunity for generations to come.”
Robert and Janet Vackar, both natives of the Valley and the owners and principal dealers of the Bert Ogden Auto Group, were raised by parents who owned local businesses, instilling in them the values of hard work, volunteerism and giving back to the community. United by a shared commitment, they are passionate about empowering students to achieve their educational goals.
UTRGV President Guy Bailey expressed profound gratitude for the Vackar family’s long history of friendship and visionary support of the university that currently serves more than 30,000 students.
“Robert and Janet Vackar’s remarkable generosity and steadfast commitment to UTRGV exemplify the spirit of philanthropy and community leadership,” Bailey said. “Their transformative support will have a lasting impact on our university, empowering us to enhance educational opportunities and enrich the lives of our students for generations to come.”
The Vackars’ philanthropy extends to numerous scholarships at UTRGV, and in recognition of their exceptional generosity, the College of Business was renamed to the Robert C. Vackar College of Business and Entrepreneurship in 2016.
Bailey said Robert and Janet Vackar’s steadfast support for UTRGV from its inception has laid the foundation for the university’s remarkable journey and current success.
“Their visionary contributions, which started just a few months after our university’s opening, not only provided financial support but also bestowed instant credibility upon our institution,” Bailey said. “Their early investments helped put UTRGV on the map and set the stage for our ongoing growth and impact. Their ongoing dedication continues to shape the trajectory of our university.”
Video of the event is available online at: https://www.facebook.com/utrgv/videos/429408102888197
Eddie Galván Promoted to Associate Athletic Director for Development and Premium Seating for the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Department of Intercollegiate Athletics announced on Wednesday, March 20, 2024, the promotion of Eddie Galván to Associate Athletic Director for Development and Premium Seating.
In his new role, Galván will transition from ticket sales and operations to overseeing all aspects of premium seating and help with fundraising responsibilities. He will manage the suites, corrals, home plate club, court side, any future premium areas, and donor parking. Galván will also help manage a portfolio of V Club donors, securing major gifts, and assisting with giving and endowments.
“We couldn’t be more excited about Eddie’s new role heading up our premium seating sales and service and being an impactful major gift fundraiser,” said Derek Schramm, Senior Associate Athletic Director for Advancement and Administration. “The increased premium seating offerings at our current venues and the added premium options at the Robert and Janet Vackar Stadium when we kick-off football in 2025 make this a very important position in our department, and there’s not a better individual that’s more equipped for the job than Eddie.”
Galván was promoted to Assistant Athletic Director for Tickets and Operations in November 2023. In this role, he led the planning and execution for football ticket sales and operations while also participating in game day logistics, ticket pricing, season ticket holder retention, seating assignments, staffing, and box office operations for UTRGV Football, along with other duties that carried over from his prior role.
“I would like to thank Chasse Conque, Derek Schramm, and Seth Jones for the trust they have placed in me from the very beginning,” Galván said. “They have consistently provided me with opportunities and guidance that have greatly contributed to both my personal and professional development. I am beyond excited to start this new role! I look forward to continuing to develop relationships and garner support that is and will be instrumental to the continued growth and success of UTRGV Athletics and the Rio Grande Valley. V’s Up!”
“V’s Up!” is a single-hand sign representing the Vaqueros (Cowboys) community. It is the same ‘v’ used in American sign language and represents the true spirit of the UTRGV students, staff, faculty, and the greater community. “V’s Up!” is used across all university community cations and branding and is a universal sign of the UTRGV spirit and The Future of Texas.
https://www.utrgv.edu/about/mission-and-traditions/hand-signs/index.htm
Galván joined UTRGV in August 2021 as the Ticket Sales and Operations Assistant where he managed the ticket sales website, set up group visits to competitions, and created lasting relationships in the community to draw supporters to the Vaqueros.
“His ability to build lasting relationships with UTRGV supporters and community members has been evident with the many successes and milestones he has achieved the past few years,” Schramm said. “The skillset and talents that Eddie possesses will undoubtedly help propel UTRGV Athletics forward as we continue to #RallyTheValley.”
While at UTRGV, Galván has helped the Vaqueros hit record ticket revenue and break attendance records across multiple sports. He was instrumental in helping UTRGV gather the largest crowd to ever watch a women’s basketball game in the Valley with 6,591 fans in attendance to see UTRGV take on Texas in 2023. Galván facilitated ticket sales when a crowd of 6,418 fans saw the Vaqueros baseball team host Texas in 2022.
Galván came to UTRGV after spending seven months as an account manager with Grainger Industrial Supply in San Antonio, where he serviced more than 200 small to medium-sized companies while keeping his book of business 115-to-145% over his monthly revenue goal.
Galván has previous experience in college athletics, having served as a communications and marketing assistant while a student at the University of Texas at San Antonio. He also worked in the Office of the Vice President for Business Affairs as a marketing assistant.
Galván has also previously worked in sports in the Valley, serving as a marketing intern for Bert Ogden Arena, the former H-E-B Park (now Robert and Janet Vackar Stadium), the Rio Grande Valley Vipers and RGV FC Toros in 2019.
Galván graduated from UTSA with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing in May 2020 and graduated with a Master of Business Administration from UTRGV in December 2022.
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) was created by the Texas Legislature in 2013 as the first major public university of the 21st century in Texas.
This transformative initiative provided the opportunity to expand educational opportunities in the Rio Grande Valley, including a new School of Medicine, and made it possible for residents of the region to benefit from the Permanent University Fund – a public endowment contributing support to the University of Texas System and other institutions.
UTRGV, which has an enrollment of more than 32,000 students, has campuses and off-campus research and teaching sites throughout the Rio Grande Valley including in Boca Chica Beach, Brownsville (formerly The University of Texas at Brownsville campus), Edinburg (formerly The University of Texas-Pan American campus), Harlingen, McAllen, Port Isabel, Rio Grande City, Weslaco and South Padre Island. ]
UTRGV, a comprehensive academic institution, enrolled its first class in the fall of 2015, and the School of Medicine welcomed its first class in the summer of 2016.
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For more on this and other Texas legislative news stories that affect the Rio Grande Valley metropolitan region, please log on to Titans of the Texas Legislature (TitansoftheTexasLegislature.com).
