Lasting Legacy: President of TSTC J. Gilbert Leal retires after 39 years

HARLINGEN - J. Gilbert Leal, president of Texas State Technical College, announced his retirement Thursday after serving 30 years in that capacity.

His retirement is effective Aug. 31. In his retirement, Leal said he wanted to spend time with his family while continuing to support TSTC and Harlingen.

Leal started his career here when the school was called Texas State Technical Institute in 1969 serving over the years as teacher, migrant counseling supervisor, director of admissions, dean of students and general manager before becoming president.

"Without a doubt this has been one of the hardest decisions I have to make in my career, but it had to happen sooner or later," he said.

When Leal started, there were 67 students and 30 employees, TSTC officials said. Today, the school boasts enrollment of 6,000 and more than 500 employees this fall.

"I leave with much pride in our countless accomplishments, which have transformed TSTC Harlingen from a vocational institute into a high caliber technical college," Leal said.

U.S. Rep. Ruben Hinojosa, D-Mercedes, who sat with Leal on a number of educational advisory panels, said Leal's departure leaves big shoes to fill.

"Over the course of his career he has blazed a trail of educational opportunity for the Rio Grande Valley - for our public school children, our adult learners, and our college students," Hinojosa said.

Faculty and students said it would be tough for TSTC to go on without Leal.

"He has nothing but the greatest dreams and visions for TSTC; students are very important to him," said Veronica Sanchez, 29, a dental hygiene student who is the student body president.

Robert Gomez, vice president of financial services, has worked with Leal for almost 12 years. In his time with Leal, Gomez said Leal had done the most to help advance the college and its students.

"He went though a lot," Gomez said. "We're going to miss him."

Across the campus Thursday, faculty said they valued Leal's dedication.

"His personality allowed him to let his subordinates develop a close relationship with him that puts them at ease," said Pat Hobbs, vice president for student learning. "It was a great work relationship."

Hobbs, who worked with Leal for 17 years, said Leal handled his responsibilities well.

Javier De Leon, associate vice president for Workforce Development, who worked with Leal for 20 years, said the role of president is difficult, and the fact that Leal did it for 30 years says a lot about his character.

"What he demanded was excellence," De Leon said. "He provided me with flexibility. Without that my program wouldn't operate."

For as long as Leal has been president, Hossein Pezeshki has worked at TSTC.

"When I started here there were not many buildings," Pezeshki said. "This place has grown a lot. We're going to miss him."

Though students may not know his impact directly, Hobbs, De Leon and Pezeshki said Leal's efforts are visible in the school's landscape and relationships with state universities.

"It's because of Dr. Leal that their transfers are a reality and the benefits they are receiving are because of him," De Leon said.