Mayor_City Council.Dr.Rolando.Vela August 21, 2012
Good afternoon Mayor Mark Burrough and members of the Denton City Council
I am Isabella Pina-Hinojosa a Denton resident for the past 36 years. Today, I represent the
Denton League of Latin American Citizens Council #4366.
If you've researched and read about Dr. Roland G. Vela, you know that he was elected as the
first Latino member to the city Council in 1979 and continuously thereafter his leadership
qualities were further demonstrated during his tenure. Several community members of Denton
will share their thoughts of Dr. Vela's contribution to the City of Denton. Mine began as a
university student at North Texas State University in 1975. As our university sponsor to the few
Latinos on campus, Dr. Vela welcomed us by giving us hope to pursue our education in Denton
and stressing community involvement within the City of Denton.
His leadership served as a founding member of the Firehouse Theater Group, now known as the
Campus Theater that continues as one of Denton's historical features. Thereafter, Dr. Vela sat
on the Board of Directors for the Texas municipal Power Agency as Secretary Treasurer; Finance
Committee; and Personnel Committee during a period of eleven years.
G. Roland Vela participated with the Citizens'Committee on Traffic Safety and the Civil Air
Patrol. As a member of the Denton Municipal Airport, he was twice named Chair of the Airport
Advisory Board which advises the city council and/or city manager on airport operations to
include lease agreements, development policy, grant projects and/or the budget.
In addition to his civic involvement G. Roland Vela distinguished himself, highlighting the City of
Denton, as a honorary professor and elected to the Fellow American Academy of Microbiology
in 1975, an honor given to only 300 of the nearly 2000 distinguished scientists in a 50 year
history.
It is due to G. Roland Vela's legendary devotion to the city of Denton and values that are at the
core of the Denton community that the League of United Latin American Citizens requests
naming a soccer field complex after Roland G. Vela, a fitting reminder to all present and future
citizens who serve our city and those who avail themselves in our multiple city services of the
standard for academics and civic involvement during his long tenure of service to the City of
Denton and the University of North Texas with excellence.
Sincerely,
C���,a6ella ilia-Hinojoea
LULAC Scholarship Chair 2012
Past President Denton LULAC 2011