Roll Call Tribute

Published in The Bryan-College Station Eagle from December 23 to December 26, 2011

Joseph A "Joey V" Villavisencio
September 30, 1989 - December 22, 2011

Funeral services for Joseph Villavisencio, 22, of Jacksonville, are scheduled for 2 p.m. Monday, December 26, 2011 at the First Methodist Church in Jacksonville with Rev. Joel McMahon officiating. Burial will be at Still Waters Memorial Gardens, Jacksonville. Visitation with the family will be from 12 p.m. until service time Monday, December 26, at the First Methodist Church. Mr. Villavisencio passed away Thursday, December 22, 2011 in Madisonville.

He was born September 30, 1989 in Jacksonville. Joseph graduated from Jacksonville High School in 2008. His honors include 2nd Team All District, 2005 1st Team All-District, 1st Team All East Texas, Dave Campbell's Top 25 Offensive Line, 2006 1st Team All-District, 1st Team All East Texas, 2nd Team All State AP, 2nd Team All State TSWA, 1st Team All State Academic 2007, THSCA All-Star Game, 2008. He was a National Hispanic Scholar and AP Scholar with distinction.

He was a student at Texas A&M University in College Station where he was a radiological health engineering major and a senior offensive lineman. As a freshman he started in an A&M win over Iowa State. He saw action in nine games during his career, including two as a senior. He was a four year letterman in football. He had just finished bowl practice in College Station in preparation for the Meineke Car Care Bowl of Texas to be played on December 31. He will be remembered as a very special person who would do anything for anyone, always offering a smile. He was recently selected as Director of Risk Management for CARPOOL executive committee where he worked as a driver for three years.

Survivors include his parents, Jose "Victor" and Christine Villavisencio; sister, Mikaela Brook Villavisencio, all of Jacksonville; grandparents, Karen Keating of Colorado, and Mike and Els Connally of Reading, England; great-grandparents Charles and Rudelle Connally of Glen Rose.

Pallbearers will be Ryan Malaty, Brandon Malaty, Connor Malaty, Ryan Arrington, Jonathan Bullock, Chris Jones, Colten McCown, and Bud Swindler. Honorary Pallbearers will be the Texas A&M offensive line.

Memorials may be made to CARPOOL at any Austin Bank location or to Michael Johnson, CARPOOL, 127 John J. Koldus, College Station, Texas 77843-1236.
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Published (in) The Bryan-College Station Eagle (on) Friday, December 23, 2011

Texas A&M lineman killed in wreck
By MICHELLE CASADY
michelle.casady@theeagle.com

Special to The Eagle

A senior offensive lineman on the Texas A&M football team died Thursday in a head-on collision on his way home to visit family for the holidays.

Witnesses said Joseph Villavisencio, 22, swerved to avoid striking a buzzard in the road on F.M. 39 and crossed into oncoming traffic, where his vehicle collided head-on with a southbound 18-wheeler.

Villavisencio was the only one injured in the accident, which occurred at about 5 p.m. two miles south of Normangee. He was on his way home to Jacksonville, 130 miles northeast of College Station.

According to the Department of Public Safety, Villavisencio, who was driving a 2007 Mazda four-door, swerved to the right to avoid the bird, then over-corrected and traveled into the southbound lane. He was wearing his seatbelt.

His body was taken to Day Funeral Home in Madisonville.

James Lowe of Bryan, the driver of the 18-wheeler, was uninjured.

Villavisencio worked out with the team Thursday morning in preparation for its bowl game on Dec. 31 in Houston. Thursday marked the last practice for the team until Dec. 27.

He also went with the team to deliver Christmas gifts the players had purchased for children and families staying at the Twin City Mission.

Texas A&M Athletic Director Bill Byrne said Villavisencio was a "tremendous person and a great Aggie" in a release issued Thursday evening by the university.

"He epitomized selfless service in making A&M a better football team," he said.

The A&M senior was studying radiological health engineering.

Former coach Mike Sherman, in the same release, said he'll never forget Villavisencio.

"He was one of the most respectful and high-character players I have ever coached," Sherman said. "It was an honor and a privilege to have known him, and to have coached him. Although his life on this earth was way too short, his impact on the people he met will be everlasting."

At A&M, Villavisencio played in nine games and got his first start as a freshman in the Aggies' win over Iowa State. This season, he played in the Baylor and Kansas games.

While at Jacksonville High School, Villavisencio earned second-team all-state honors from the Associated Press and the Texas Sports Writers Association as well as first-team academic and all-state honors.