About MBJr
A former migrant farm worker Manuel was driven by his personal trials and experiences to improve the quality of life for his community by providing access to higher education and enhancing local services. Benavidez graduated from high school in Rio Grande City and received a bachelor's degree from Pan American University in 1986, completing a major in bilingual education. After beginning his career as an educator, in 1994 he was named Transportation Director for the RGCCISD, where he remained for the rest of his professional life.
He began his advocacy of education by facilitating presentations and taking an active leadership role in the local, state, and national Migrant Council Conferences. In 1993, Texas Governor Ann Richards appointed him as a founding member of the South Texas College (STC) Board of Trustees to represent Starr County in the development of a new community college district, to serve over 600,000 people in Hidalgo and Starr counties previously not served by a community college. He was elected to a six-year term in May 2000 and re-elected in May 2006. As STC trustee, he served as Chair, Vice Chair and Secretary of the Board of Trustees.
Benavidez was instrumental in helping galvanize a successful campaign to encourage voters to approve a taxing district and authorization to issue $20 million in bonds for the initial construction of five campuses/centers for STC. During his term as Chair, he played a critical role in helping the College pass a $98.7 million bond election for the construction and expansion of the College's five campuses and to fund the operating costs of the College.
He was always on the forefront of championing many innovative programs for STC and the deep South Texas region of the state. His testimony before the Texas Legislature was instrumental to passing House Bill 415 (HB 415), which allows eligible high school students to dually enroll in college and receive credit for their coursework in each. This opportunity was not previously available to Texas high school students prior to the passage of HB 415. and Texas families have benefited significantly by saving millions in waived. Because of his leadership in the passage of HB 415, STC was able to implement a Dual Enrollment Medical Science Academy (DEMSA) in Fall 2005 to serve high school students in Starr County and which was expanded to include a Dual Enrollment Engineering Academy (DEEA) for high school students in McAllen and Weslaco. Students in these programs will earn both a high school diploma and an Associate of Science degree. Benavidez was involved since the genesis and was an articulate advocate before the Texas Legislature to represent STC in its successful bid to become one of three Texas community colleges selected by the Texas Legislature to pilot offering the bachelor's of applied technology.
His vision of a Rural Technology Center for Starr County became a reality with the passage of HB 2235 authored by Representative Ryan Guillen. The grant program under the office of Rural Community Affairs funded the $3.5 million construction and equipping of a state-of-the-art rural technology center for the residents of Starr County, a project he championed throughout the preceding three legislative sessions before it became a reality. Additionally during a recent special legislative session, he was successful in helping the Legislature appropriate $6 million in funding for the University of Texas-Pan American to construct an upper level university center in Starr County. This new facility will open the door for numerous partnerships between the community college and the university.
Benavidez was a passionate advocate for community colleges and maintained close communication with members of the Texas Legislature to promote for expanded access to higher education and additional higher education funding for STC and the communities it serves. His leadership for community colleges extended to the state, regional and national levels. In 2005, he was recognized at the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) Annual Congress as the recipient of the Lifetime Membership Award for his exemplary leadership and strong support in the areas of diversity and equal opportunity. He served on the ACCT Board of Directors and as chair of the Diversity Committee. He was also the Western Region representative for the Association of Latino Community College Trustees. His efforts on behalf of STC received national acclaim and in 2006 he earned the Western Region Trustee Leadership Award, given by the ACCT. He was one of five regional award winners selected from nominees located across three countries, including the United States, Canada and England.
Benavidez had a long tenure as an active participant in local and state public education and community service. He had served on the board of the Lower Rio Grande Valley Workforce Development Board, as President of the Association of Texas Professional Educators in Rio Grande City; as area V Director for the Texas Association of Pupil Transportation, as President for the South Texas Association for Pupil Transportation and as Board Chair of the Starr County Housing Authority. He also served as the past Chair for the Starr County Democratic Party.
His community work and efforts in bringing higher education to the region were recognized when the Starr County Commissioners' Court declared November 2002 as "Manuel Benavidez, Jr. Month" in Starr County.
Most importantly he was a loving husband, caring father and indulging grandfather.