By Karen Gleason
The 830 Times
Val Verde County Judge Lewis G. Owens Jr. has been named 2021 Mr. Amistad by the Del Rio Chapter of the International Good Neighbor Council (IGNC).
The announcement was made during the IGNC’s annual “Abrazo” reception, held Friday in the Pecan Room at the Del Rio Civic Center. The reception is typically held after the Abrazo ceremony, during which elected leaders and other dignitaries from both sides of the border embrace each other to display the region’s close binational and bicultural ties.
This year, the Abrazo ceremony itself was canceled and only the reception was held.
Former Del Rio Mayor Dora G. Alcalá, Del Rio IGNC vice president, served as mistress of ceremonies for the reception, and, following an invocation and the posting of the flags of the United States and Mexico, introduced the dignitaries attending.
Alcalá recognized IGNC International President Maria Trinidad Ibarra of Eagle Pass, Del Rio IGNC President Steve Nuñez, Del Rio IGNC Secretary Tina Martinez, Del Rio IGNC Treasurer Hilda Moreno, Miss Del Rio Pageant Co-Directors Elsa Reyes and Renee Mireles and IGNC members Carmen and Ruben Gutierrez, Dr. Maria Gonzalez, Andrew Scarbo, Dolores Martinez and Yolanda and Alejandro Garcia.
Alcalá also recognized Del Rio Mayor Bruno “Ralphy” Lozano and other members of the Del Rio City Council, 47th Flying Training Wing Commander Col. Craig Prather, Del Rio Mexico Consul Paloma Villaseñor Vargas, Del Rio Guatemala Consul Randy Castillo Tocay and various other local leaders.
Alcalá also introduced U.S. Border Patrol Chief Raul Ortiz, who served as the 2021 grand marshal of the IGNC’s Fiesta De Amistad Parade.
Owens and his wife, Sylvia Owens, represented the event on behalf of Val Verde County.
She also recognized Blanca Larson of the Del Rio Chamber of Commerce, who could not attend, and Isidro Valdez Fernandez, who represented the Del Rio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
Linda Guanajuato Webb represented the San Felipe Del Rio Consolidated Independent School District.
Reyes then introduced the 2021-2022 Miss Del Rio Nayeli Duran and her court, including Little Miss Del Rio Alessandra Gomez Moreno, Miss Junior Del Rio Zoey Lamar Leyendecker, Miss Pre-Teen Del Rio Jazel Elena Sanchez and Miss Del Rio Teen Elie Abrego Zavala.
Reyes also presented the Little Miss Amistad Kataleya Bela Reyes and Little Mr. Amistad Mason Flores.
Alcalá next introduced the Honorable Oscar Jesus Hale and Kristina Laurel Hale of Laredo. The Hales played the part of George and Martha Washington in this year’s Society of Martha Washington in Laredo.
Alcalá then revealed the identity of the year’s Mr. Amistad.
“Every year, we name a very special person in our community, and that person is Mr. or Mrs. or Miss Amistad. This year, we are honored to name our very own Val Verde County Judge Lewis Owens as 2021 Mr. Amistad,” Alcalá said.
“It is with great honor that we name you as Mr. Amistad for 2021, Judge Owens. Tomorrow you will reign in our parade, and Sylvia, it will be your job that he wears his sash and waves at everyone,” Alcalá added.
“This is really unbelievable,” Owens said as he was presented with the Mr. Amistad sash and plaque.
Alcalá then spoke about Ortiz, who was named as the Fiesta De Amistad Parade grand marshal.
She told the audience Ortiz, who considers Del Rio his hometown and who attended the event with his mother, who still lives here, became the 25th Chief of the U.S. Border Patrol in August. She noted he “oversees domestic border security operations outside the ports of entry along our nation’s border, which includes more than 5,000 miles with Canada and nearly 2,000 miles with Mexico, hundreds of coastal miles and our territories in the Caribbean.”
“He proudly leads more than 20,000 Border Patrol agents and professional staff across the country as they perform their homeland security mission,” Alcalá said.
Finally, Alcalá spoke about the IGNC’s annual art contest, which represents the year’s Fiesta celebration. This year’s art contest winner was Daniela Cruz. Also participating in the contest were Evelyn Solis, Amaris Sanchez and Zabdiel Antu.
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Contact the author at delriomagnoliafan@gmail.com
