J.R. Bob Weathers,  WBCA President

 The Washington's Birthday Celebration Association (WBCA) officially presented the WBCA Executive Committee and Board of Directors for the 116th Celebration in a well-attended WBCA board meeting held at the Laredo Country Club.  Having the honor to serve as WBCA President in 2012 - 2013 is J.R. Bob Weathers, a longtime Laredoan, 

 "It's an honor and a privilege to be working hand in hand with all the people involved in making this awesome Celebration possible, from the WBCA Volunteers to the City, County, State, Federal leaders and sponsors. As we know the Celebration's success hinges on the work done by volunteers and we're fortunate to have such a supporting city in Laredo," Weathers said. 

Weathers, owner of WH Mortgage Solutions LLC, has held many leadership roles within the WBCA, most recently through his chairmanship of many of WBCA's larger events including the WBCA Stars and Stripes Air Show Spectacular, IBC Youth Parade Under the Stars, and Anheuser-Busch Washington's Birthday Parade. He has also served on several other WBCA committees throughout the years. His commitment to the WBCA earned him the Matias de Llano Memorial Award in 2005, which is the highest honor bestowed on a Director by the President of the Association in grateful recognition of dedicated service and time spent on improving the quality of a WBCA Event. He was also awarded the President's Merit Award in 2007 for exceptional service in committee work and promotion of the Celebration. In 2008, he received the Joseph Netzer Award, which is presented to a director who has gone above and beyond the call of duty to provide the president of the WBCA with assistance in achieving a successful year.

 His community involvement not only includes the WBCA, but the Border Olympics and the Society of Martha Washington as well. His family involvement with the Border Olympics extends back to his grandfather Furney Muller who served as a WBCA Board of Director in the 1930's and was one of six individuals under the directive of WBCA to establish the International Track Meet referred today as the Border Olympics Track and Field Meet. His grandmother Julia Bird Jones Muller was an active member in the Society of Martha Washington in the 1940's.

 Bob is married to another active board member of the WBCA, Nydia S. Weathers, and they have two lovely children, son Stephan Cole Weathers and daughter Alexandra "Ally" Cristina Weathers.

 "I'm truly blessed, especially because of my wife Nydia, who has always supported me and is the greatest life partner I could have ever asked for.  She's a fantastic mother; a wonderful wife and one of the best Dental Hygienists around.  It's amazing how she does it all, including being a WBCA board member and chair of multiple events," Weathers said. 

Bob, a University of Texas at Austin alum, is an active outdoorsman who enjoys hunting, fishing and ranching. These are hobbies he enjoys sharing with his family, who play a big part in all his endeavors.

 

E. Eddie Villarreal, Treasurer

Selected as the WBCA Treasurer is E. Eddie Villarreal, president of Tex-Mex Credit Union. Villarreal has been involved with the WBCA since 2002 and was elected to the Board of Directors in 2003. He has served on the H-E-B Fireworks Extravaganza committee, as a member and as Chair. He has been Chair of the International Bridge Ceremony and has served as the chairman of VIP Transportation among other events and committees. He received the Joseph Netzer Award in 2007 and Matias de Llano Memorial Award in 2010.
"I want to thank the board members of the WBCA for electing me to this position. I have always been a big fan of all the Washington Birthday Celebration Association events and am amazed at how this organization can come together and have all the events in such a short amount of time," Villarreal said.
Villarreal is the President of Tex-Mex Credit Union. He is an active member of the community. He served on the Jalape�o Festival Association board and was president in 1984. He was also involved with the Laredo Builders Association, Leadership Laredo, Laredo Gateway Rotary, and the International Good Neighbor Council.

Emily S. Gonzalez and Isaac Garza will portray Princess Pocahontas and Chief during the 116th Washington Birthday Celebration festivities.

 The Princess Pocahontas Council selected Emily Gonzalez and Isaac Garza to portray Princess Pocahontas and Chief Soaring Eagle for the 116th Washington's Birthday Celebration. The portrayal of Princess Pocahontas is awarded to one talented young lady after a rigorous two-day competition that involves horsemanship, a group dance, a personal talent showcase and an interview session.  

The Princess Pocahontas Pageant and Ball will be held on Saturday, February 16, 2013. For more information click here.  

By George is the official Magazine of the Washington's Birthday Celebration. This publication is distributed throughout Texas in various hotels, Convention and Visitors Bureaus, Chambers of Commerce, and other high traffic areas. The 12th edition of By George will have a distribution of 60,000 copies at over 170 locations throughout Texas, Mexico and surrounding areas. If you would like to purchase an ad or have your business be a distribution point for the upcoming issue of By George contact the WBCA Office at 956.722.0589.

 Preparations for the 2013 WBCA/IGNC International Bridge Ceremony Sponsored by La Posada Hotel are underway, as the search for the 2013 Abrazo Children has commenced. The 2012-2013 Abrazo Children application deadline is THURSDAY, June 28, 2012 by 5 pm. Children MUST be between the ages of SEVEN (7) and NINE (9) as of JUNE 1, 2012, and their parents, grandparents or family members MUST be or have been active committee members of either WBCA or IGNC for at least (3) three years. If you know of anyone who is eligible or have any questions about eligibility, please call the WBCA office at 956.722.0589.

Become an integral part of the biggest Celebration in South Texas. For information on how to sponsor an event for the 116th Washington's Birthday Celebration, call the WBCA Executive Director Lisa Morales at 956.722.0589.

Starting June 1, 2012 the WBCA will begin its new summer hours: Monday-Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Closed Friday, Saturday and Sunday. For more information call the WBCA office at 956.722.0589.