San Angelo Chamber of Commerce Unveils 2021 Citizens of the Year

SAN ANGELO, TX — For decades the San Angelo Chamber of Commerce has selected a local leader to be named as the Citizen of the Year. The 2021 honorees are Barbara Rallo and Treva Boyd of EnPleinAirTEXAS. 

"For the first time in the history of the Citizen of the Year, our committee has selected a couple, “not married… to each other” that have combined their efforts on an incredible event, collaborating over the past eight years and continues for its 9th year in 2022 putting San Angelo on the international art scene map," said 2020 Citizen of the Year Matt Lewis. "Both ladies are like Madonna and Cher, who are recognized simply by their first names alone! Our two Citizens of the Year for 2021 is the dynamic duo: Barbara Rallo and Treva Boyd."

Barbara Rallo is a native of San Angelo, graduated from Angelo State, and is active in establishing the “Host Family” program for international students. She has been an active ASU alumnus, was ASU’s First Lady from 2009-2012, was a member of the Texas Tech University Public Art Committee, serves on the board for the Cultural Affairs Council, and the Symphony. While in France anticipating her long-awaited marriage proposal, she required the re-creation of the proposal, due to an all-day shopping trip to Florence. She is known for her beautiful watercolor rendering, especially red-poppies, and is the quintessential art entrepreneur. 

Treva Boyd was born in Lamesa Texas, attended Angelo State University, after having to turn down a French Horn music scholarship at Stephens University in Memphis because her father wouldn’t let her leave the state. She later transferred on to Texas A&M graduating in 1974, paying her own way through college. She has been married to another Aggie for the past 48 years, raising two sons, who also graduated from Texas A&M, are both married, and have given her four grandsons.

She’s been involved in community activities her entire life, being active in church, brownies, 4-H, Junior League, A&M Club, Fiesta del Concho, teaching Sunday School at Southland Baptist, United Way volunteer of the year in 1989 while working at GTE, volunteering for West Texas Boys Ranch, several Texas A&M committees, the Texas Racing Commission, and Revitalize Christoval, all while working outside the home, which included work at ASU in the President’s office, working at GTE in human resources and labor relations, and President & CEO of American Truck & RV. 

"In 2014 this pair collaborated to restart this annual gathering, which is now known nationally and internationally as a recognized public art program, exposing San Angelo to the competitive art of painting outdoors, bringing in hundreds of the most renowned artists in the country. This effort has helped our own San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts facilitate the program and gain increased national exposure all while raising several hundred thousand dollars each year to support the San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts educational youth programing," said Lewis.

"Everyone in our community know these two ladies simply by their first names, Barbara and Treva, which is a testament to their impact and long-time community involvement to help make San Angelo a great place to live. Congratulations to Barbara and Treva and their work on EnPleinAir Texas."

The honorees for the past decade have been:

• 2020 — Matt Lewis
• 2019 — Lynn Shipley
• 2018 — Lt Gen (Ret) Ronnie & Maria Hawkins
• 2017 — Rick Mantooth
• 2016 — Elta Joyce Murphey McAfee
• 2015 — Mike Boyd
• 2014 — Dr. Carol Ann Bonds
• 2013 — Hank & Mary Hankins 
• 2012 — State Rep. Drew Darby
• 2011 — Fred Key