David Allex ’58 is being inducted posthumously as a distinguished alum, due to his recent passing in 2019. During his lifetime Allex was known as “Mr. Harlingen”, where he served as President and CEO of the Harlingen Chamber of Commerce for 34 years. During his time with the chamber he was responsible for the work done through the Harlingen Industrial Foundation and the Development Corporation of Harlingen. He also earned the prestigious Certified Chamber of Commerce Executive designation. In 1958 Allex earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Texas College of Arts & Industries before serving in the US Army and later returning to the Rio Grande Valley he called home.

 

After the closing of the Harlingen Air Force Base, Allex was instrumental in helping to fill the void by bringing the then upstart carrier, Southwest Airlines, to Harlingen. Throughout his career Allex was appointed by several Governors to serve on various task forces and advisory committees that ranged from regional to state-wide impact - including travel, commercial development, workforce quality and international trade. Allex was the recipient of the Marvin Hurley Award, Road Handler Award, Outstanding Young Man Award and Distinguished Service Award from Harlingen Jaycees to name a few. He was co-founder of Texas State Technical College in Harlingen and St. Anthony’s Catholic School in Harlingen. At the heart of everything he did, was a sense of vision and passion were all citizens would be gainfully employed.

 

Click on the names below of the honorees to read their respective bio:

 

Carmen Lomas Garza '72

Donna Shaver '84

Jose Luis Cortez '60, '61

Angelica Barrerz '00, '01

Roberto Montoya '70

 

Robert Ray Molina, Jr. '17