Los Caminos del Rio elects Mexican historian as new president
McALLEN — Los Caminos del Rio elected Mexican historian Carlos Rugerio Cazares as its new president to replace Eddie Treviño Jr.
Treviño called the emergency meeting last week after announcing he would step down because of his candidacy for Cameron County judge. Treviño announced in September that he would run against County Judge Carlos H. Cascos.
Rugerio was one of Los Caminos del Rio’s longest-serving employees before becoming the archivist general for Tamaulipas. He is also a former director of Museo Casamata in Matamoros.
“His commitment to the border and LCDR is such that ever since (his appointment as archivist general), he continues to come every single weekend to Roma, where he spends Saturdays working on their archives,” Los Caminos del Rio Executive Director Eric Ellman said in an e-mailed response.
Treviño said Rugerio is “one of the more renowned historians in Mexico,” especially in the field of U.S.-Mexico border relations and border culture.
He said that as president, Rugerio will continue to bring awareness to people on both sides of the border that the Rio Grande should be “utilized as a natural asset.”
Los Caminos del Rio seeks to preserve and teach the cultural and environmental heritage of the Lower Rio Grande Valley. Since Ellman took over as executive director three years ago, he said they have tried to “reinvigorate the national heritage area effort” through outdoor sports and exercise programs with historical themes.
“Locals have been afraid of utilizing the river for recreational activities, and (Ellman) and a number of kayakers are showing that you can do all these activities and not be concerned from a safety or a health standpoint,” said Treviño, the former Brownsville mayor. “The more positive activities on the river, the less likelihood of negative or harmful activities in that area.”
Ellman said he is also encouraging the Los Caminos board to consider James Wright to be the group’s vice president from Mexico. Wright is the owner of Xaman Expeditions, a Ciudad Victoria, Tamps.-based ecotourism company.
Los Caminos has both a Mexican and U.S. vice president to assure representation and project oversight on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border.
Los Caminos will also be hiring new officers in January once it unveils its new office in Rio Grande City, Ellman said.
Treviño said his future involvement with Los Caminos depends on the result of the Cameron County judge election in November 2010.
“There are plenty of other people that are more than ready to step up to the plate and move Los Caminos forward,” Treviño said. “I’m glad things are being left in good hands.”
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Nick Pipitone covers McAllen, PSJA, the Mid-Valley and general assignments for The Monitor. He can be reached at (956) 683-4446.
