TSC Honors Batsell & Besteiro as Distinguished Alumni 2000

Proprietor of a successful hardware and sporting goods emporium and a community leader through many changes at the Brownsville Navigation District: James "Jim" Richard Batsell is this year's honoree as TSC Distinguished Alumnus.

The President of Batsell's Sporting Goods and Vice President of Batsell's Hardware since 1946, Jim Batsell helped build a thriving family business for nearly 40 years.   Active at many levels in his community, Batsell was elected to the Port of Brownsville Navigation District board for five consecutive terms from 1956 to 1986, and served as chairman of the board for nine years.

"I feel quite honored that they chose me," said Batsell. "It was quite a surprise when (UTB/TSC President Dr. Juliet) Garcia called - a very pleasant surprise."

Batsell attended TSC from 1938 to 1940, when it was known as Brownsville Junior College and was housed in the same building as Brownsville High School.  He was grateful for the chance to attend college while still working afternoons and weekends at the family business. He went on to earn a bachelor of business administration degree from UT-Austin before returning to the Brownsville.

Active in the industry for many years, Batsell served as president of the state hardware board in 1965; as board member and then president of the National Retail Hardware Association in the 1960s and 70s; and as a delegate to the International Hardware Convention in Helsinki, Finland, in 1977.  

Always active in his community as well, Batsell was elected in 1956 to the first of  five six-year-terms on the Brownsville Navigation District Board.  He was president of that board from 1978 to 1986.

Over three decades, Batsell helped guide this Valley institution through many changes: From the days when  "cotton was king" and the Port of Brownsville was one of the biggest cotton ports in the nation, through the aftermath of a devastating Mexican peso devaluation. During his years on the waterfront, the navigation district grew considerably in size, land was purchased for a planned Port bridge, and a headquarters was established for the developing shrimp industry.

In 1987, he was honored by the Port of Brownsville and Brownsville Chamber of Commerce for "excellence in leadership and stewardship to his community" and was described as "a man of vision, sturdy character, unimpeachable integrity and one who gets things done."

A charter and active member of Faith Presbyterian Church, Batsell was involved in regional and national Presbyterian organizations. He was a commissioner in the Presbyterian Church's General Assembly, its top governing board, in 1963.

Through the years, he also served with the United Fund, the Brownsville Downtown Lion's Club and other organizations.

After a distinguished career in teaching and educational administration, Raul Adrian Besteiro Jr. went on to excel in a totally different area of civic responsibility - making his choice as this year's UTB/TSC Distinguished Alumnus doubly fitting.

After a career in Brownsville schools that included service as teacher, principal and finally superintendent, Besteiro now serves a different community institution: as chief executive officer of the Port of Brownsville.

Besteiro, who got his start in higher education at Texas Southmost College, was honored May 12 at a campus reception.

Besteiro attended TSC in 1952-53 before heading for the University of Texas at Austin, where he studied zoology and chemistry. He returned to take teaching courses at TSC and went on to earn a masters of arts degree in school administration and social sciences from what was then Texas A&I University.

"Mr. B," as he was affectionately known, has been described as a "living legend" in Brownsville public schools. As principal at Brownsville High School from 1968 to 1974, he introduced the dual division concept to relieve overcrowding at what was then one of Texas's largest high schools.  

Besteiro occupied the superintendent's office for 13 years between 1976 and 1989, and supervised the construction of 10 schools during his tenure. He has also been an adjunct professor in the alternative certification program at UTB/TSC, guiding student teachers in their training.

His work in education was acknowledged in 1996, when he was elected president of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.  As president of SACS, he was a leader in formulating policy for the accreditation of the region's 12,000 member schools and colleges.

Also in 1997, Besteiro became Director of the Port of Brownsville, where he had been a consultant since 1990.

"Being chosen as a Distinguished Alumnus is one of the greatest honors bestowed on me," said Besteiro. "There's a feeling of accomplishment as an educator. I've reached the pinnacle at the college where I got my start."

Besteiro said he owes a lot to TSC. "When I went to TSC, I had some of the finest teachers I ever had. What they gave me was an education and a foundation that I could not have received anywhere else."

Besteiro said he often reminds students how lucky they are to have a fine four-year university right in Brownsville. "Now they have that quality education sitting right here, and no excuses. I feel this is one of the greatest advances we have made here in South Texas."