Roll Call Tribute

Vidal Gonzalez, Jr. '72
September 03, 1950 - September 16, 2020

As a young man Vidal worked at his parents beef cattle ranch in northern Mexico every summer. He fed and showed cattle, sheep, and swine at major livestock shows. He had a FFA American farmer degree and won Grand Champion Charbray Female at the Houston Livestock Show in 1966.

Vidal Gonzalez '72 graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Science from Texas A&M in 1972 and completed Master's Degree in beef cattle production and veterinary physiology in 1974. Vidal was an exemplary student. He was recognized by Texas A&M University as a Distinguished Student. He was the Eagle Pass Hometown Club President, Pre-Vet Society President and Reporter, Senior Class Social Secretary, Fish, Junior, and Senior class Council, Corps of Cadets - Cadet Captain, Co. B-1 Executive Officer, Co. B-1 1st Platoon Sergeant, he received the Outstanding Junior in 1st Battalion Award, Alpha Phi Omega Parliamentarian and Public Relations Officer, Intramural Manager, Saddle & Sirloin Club, Texas A&M Rodeo Association, Texas A&M Collegiate FFA, Flying Kadets, Junior Livestock Judging Team, Special Programs and Host for MSC SCONA 16, A&M Leadership Committee, and A&M Public Relations Committee.

He attended the Texas Banker's Association Commercial Lending School at the Hankamer School of Business of Baylor University in 1987, graduated from the Southwestern Graduate School of Banking Foundation at Southern Methodist University in 1990, and attended the Air War College, 43rd National Security Forum at Maxwell Air Force Base, Montgomery, Alabama in 1996.

Has published many articles about farming, ranching, and banking. Has been honored by the Future Farmers of America and is listed on the Who's Who list for the Finance Industry, Leading American Executives, International Who's Who of Professionals and Oxford's Who's Who.

With a long history of service to Texas A&M, has served as the International Vice President for the Association of Former Students, the chair for the Outstanding International Alumnus Award Selection Committee, and was most recently the co-chair for the John K. Riggs '41 professorship in beef cattle science. He served as the Texas A &M International Programs Advisory Board, the Foundation's Excellence Award Selection Committee and the Corps of Cadets Development Council. Vidal has served on the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs Board, the Texas Bankers Association Board, the Texas Independent Bankers Bank South Texas Advisory Council, the United Medical Centers Board, Appointee of the Governor of Texas, and President Vincente Fox's Consejo Consultive de el Instituto de Los Mexicanos en el Exterior. President of the Frontier State Bank in Eagle Pass, Texas, President of the First National Bank in Del Rio, Texas.

Vidal also volunteered with The Association of Former Students for Orange & Maroon Legislative Day from 2007 through 2009. Also he volunteered for Phone-A-Fish. He was a member of the San Antonio A&M Club. He was also President for the Rotary Club and The Chamber of Commerce in Eagle Pass, TX. 

He was preceded in death by his mother, Diana Munoz Gonzalez and his father, Vidal Gonzalez de los Santos.

He is survived by his daughter Savannah Victoria Gonzalez. He is also survived by his 5 loving sisters, Tere Gonzalez, Dianis G Brown, Guille G Hector, Aida G Arizpe, and Mariness Gonzalez.