San Angelo Hispanic Heritage Museum & Cultural Center Announces 2025 Honorees

SAN ANGELO, TX — The San Angelo Hispanic Heritage Museum & Cultural Center announced this year’s recipients of its annual awards, honoring individuals who embody leadership, service, and cultural pride within the community.

Each award is named after a visionary whose legacy continues to inspire San Angelo.

Carolina Angela de la Garza Dewitt Legend Award

This year’s honoree is the late Henry Hogeda, Sr., founder of The Original Henry’s Restaurant, recognized for his extraordinary contributions to the development and cultural richness of San Angelo. Like Carolina Angela de la Garza Dewitt, the wife of the city’s founder and namesake of San Angelo, this awardee represents innovation, dedication, and a lasting impact on the community.

Captain Albert Tijerina Jr. Trailblazer Award

The recipient of this award is Rick De Hoyos, Attorney at Law, a bold leader making a significant impact in San Angelo. This honor reflects the pioneering spirit of Captain Albert Tijerina Jr., a figure of courage, leadership, and unwavering service to both community and country.

Eva Camuñez Tucker Service Award

We are proud to honor John Fuentes, owner of Fuentes Cafe Downtown, for his remarkable volunteerism and commitment to preserving Hispanic culture. Like Eva Camuñez Tucker, this honoree exemplifies kindness, stewardship, and the selfless dedication to uplifting others through service.

Carol Santry Hispanic Educator Award

This year’s recipient, Joe Gándar, Principal of Lincoln Middle School, is recognized for his devotion to education, cultural understanding, and service. In the spirit of Carol Santry, who dedicated her life to celebrating Hispanic culture through teaching and mentorship, this awardee exemplifies the power of education to build bridges and honor heritage.

Amigo Award

Finally, the Amigo Award goes to Simon Rincon, owner of Nachos’s Restaurant, Cantina & Grill, Maria Mejia of Concho Valley Turning Point, and Araceli Gutierrez,founder and CEO of Conexion Hispana Internacional, honoring their significant contributions to fostering understanding and bridging cultural divides in San Angelo.

The winners will be formally recognized at the 2025 Hispanic Heritage Banquet on Saturday, September 27, 2025, at 6 p.m. at the ASU CJ Davidson Conference Center. Actor, producer and activist Wilmer Valderrama will be the special guest. Tickets are still available at sanangelohispanicheritage.org.