Unexpected Honor

Everyone seems to have an opinion of Brownsville ISD Athletic Director Joe Rodriguez.

Apparently, the Texas High School Athletic Directors Association is a big fan of his.

During the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association awards ceremony on July 27 in Austin, Rodriguez unex-pectedly heard his name called for the National Federation of High Schools highest honor.

"It was a complete surprise," he said. "I was hearing a biography being told and it sounded familiar, then they called me up."

THSADA's nominated Rodriguez for the NFHS Citation award given to athletic administrators from across the nation who have excelled in the profession.

There are only eight nominees throughout the entire nation and Rodriguez said he was excited to be recognized for the work he's done in Brownsville.

"It's an honor to receive this nomination," Rodriguez said. "It was really neat and to be honored by my peers is special."

The winner of the NFHS Citation will be announced on December 15 at the Athletic Directors Conference/NIAAA Annual Meet-ing in San Diego.

Pace basketball coach Larry Gibson said Rodriguez' honor is well warranted with much of his focus on the youth of Brownsville.

"It's a great award," Gibson said. "It's very deserved. I've been here 16 years and he's been there whenever the kids needed any-thing, he does everything for the kids."

Asked how he felt taking the nomination over hundreds of other athletic administrators he answered humbly.

"We all do this for the same reason," he said "It's to make the lives of the kids better."

Rivera volleyball coach Elizabeth Avelar-Guerra added that the support Rodriguez has given local coaches has been tremendous along with direction for the coaching community.

"He's been a great leader," she said. "(Rodriguez) has been very supportive of the coaches. If you do your job right he'll back you up."

In 2003 Rodriguez was inducted into the NFHS Hall of Honor making him only the third Valley athletic director to receive the honor.

Cumulatively Rodriguez has been an athletic administrator or athletic director for over 25 years.

One of Rodriguez' most noted accomplishments is the berth of the Student Scholarship Services that has given over 700 students scholarships during his tenure at BISD.

"I served on the NIAAA board and for the athletic directors committee and I feel honored to be recognized by the state," Rodri-guez said. "There are many athletic directors worthy of this award and we all work to give more for the kids."