Community leaders say farewell to TSTC's Leal

HARLINGEN - Casa Del Sol was the scene of an emotional farewell Thursday. But it was a good one none the less.

Community leaders including Mayor Chris Boswell, former mayors, school board members, business owners and at least 200 others gathered to bid farewell to Gilbert Leal as he prepares for his retirement from Texas State Technical College.

"If there was a hall of fame for people in Harlingen no doubt you would be there," Boswell said to Leal as he presented him with a proclamation declaring Aug. 12 Dr. Gilbert Leal Day.

Leal also received other honorary certificates, plaques and gift cards from local entities.

Leal's retirement from TSTC after 30 years as president is effective as of Aug. 31.

"Thirty-nine years (working for TSTC) went by so fast that this is almost like a dream to me," Leal said about his farewell. "I'm shocked that it's really happening."

An emotional Leal gave a speech in which he thanked God, his family, federal, state and local leaders and the entire community for their support of TSTC throughout the years, even the years when some doubted that the community college would succeed.

Leal said one of the things he'll miss most is the daily interaction with students and staff.

His proudest achievement as president, Leal said, is having moved TSTC from a vocational school to a technical college where students can start their careers and get the preparation to move on to four-year universities.

Leal said he hopes the next TSTC president will continue to build partnerships with universities and work to increase enrollment.

Luis Rosales has worked at TSTC with Leal 31 years and said Leal always put students first, followed by his staff.

"Since day one he had an open-book policy," Rosales said. "He had a good personality and you could go up to him at any time. We became such good friends."

Carlos Martinez, former student and now an employee at TSTC, said it was Leal who encouraged him leave his job at a grocery store and attend the college.

Now Martinez is working on his bachelor's of business administration, he said.

"I owe it to him," Martinez said. "He's going to be a mentor for me for the rest of my life. He had an open-door policy and always treated everyone as an equal."

Billy England, a locksmith and carpenter at TSTC for 33 years, said it is sad to see Leal go because education has always been his priority.

"He's always been there and he's always fair," England said. "His sense of humor and his personality - he could talk to anyone. He's something else."

Virginia Serna, a Spanish professor at TSTC, said Leal will be greatly missed because of all his work to introduce programs to the college.

"We are going to miss him," Serna said. "We don't know what we have until we lose it."

Leal will also be honored for his work at the college with the title of president emeritus.

The Learning Resource Center will also be renamed the Dr. Gilbert Leal Learning Resource Center.

Leal is the only the third president of TSTC since the community college opened in 1967.