Reprint from the Progress Times - January 18, 2008
©Progress Times 2008 - All Rights Reserved

Texas Citrus Fiesta could not happen without board

 

Without a doubt, the Texas Citrus Fiesta is one of the most popular fiestas in the Rio Grande Valley. Each year it draws about 100,000 people to take part in the festivities. Without a doubt, the fiesta would never happen without the board of hardworking people who labor all year long to see that it runs smoothly. It is no small task to put on a fiesta the size of the Texas Citrus Fiesta.

Sadly, this year the board mourned the loss of Tommy Thompson, long-time board member, who dedicated his life from cradle to grave to the Texas Citrus Fiesta and the citrus industry. Thompson served on the Texas Citrus Fiesta over 20 years and will be sorely missed. The Conway Avenue Baptist Church float will be dedicated to his memory.

Gilbert Acosta has been involved with the Texas Citrus Fiesta for six years and currently serves as treasurer. He has served as Fun Fair chairman and works with the Vaquero Cook-off and currently serves as one of the parade chairmen. He is the father of three children and is active in Abundant Grace Community Church. He is the owner of Western Creations & Western Traditions.

Buster Brown serves as second vice-president and has been a part of the Texas Citrus Fiesta for 12 years and has served on the board for seven years. Brown has helped with advertising the Fiesta throughout South Texas. He is co-chairman of the golf tournament and works on the barbecue committee. Brown works for BMP Radio and is a member of Trinity Episcopal Church.

Rachel Cavazos has been a part of the Texas Citrus First for nine years and has served on the board for six years. She has served as co-chairman for parade concessions and chairman of the Princess Anna Pageant. She is a member of Our Lady of Guadalupe Church. She and her husband, Orlando, own Bryan Park Exxon in Mission. They have two children.

New to the board this year is Nancy Chapa. She has been involved with the Texas Citrus Fiesta as a volunteer since 2004 when her daughter, Alexandria Canchola, was selected as Princess Anna LIV. Chapa will be helping with the Fun Fair preparations this year. She also has a son, Troy.

Bill Filut has served as Texas Citrus Fiesta president for the past 15 years. He has served on the board for 21 years. Bill is known for his tireless work on the part of the Texas Citrus Fiesta. He spends much of his free time taking the Texas Citrus Fiesta float to parades around the state to promote the Fiesta and serves as chairman of the Parade of Oranges. He is employed by the City of Mission.

Sergio Garcia has been involved with the Texas Citrus Fiesta for six years and served on the board for four years. He serves on the parade committee. Garcia is a branch bank president for First National Bank in La Joya. He and his wife, Lydia, attend Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church.

Brian Gerlach is now in his second year on the Texas Citrus Fiesta. He and his wife, Cori, have four children, Kaylee, Weston, Mackenzie and Brett. Brian has been involved with the Texas Citrus Fiesta since he was a baby. He and his brothers all served as royal pages when they were six. At age 14 he was the youngest person to receive the Golden Citrus Award. His father, Ted Gerlach, who was in charge of decorating the Royal Float, fell ill and could not complete the task. Brian took over, finished the float and then drove the vehicle that pulled it. Brian and his family are members of the First United Methodist Church of Mission.

Scott Gerlach has been a part of the Texas Citrus Fiesta for three years. He is the son of Mary Virginia Gerlach, who has made many costumes for the Texas Citrus Fiesta Product Costume Show so he is very familiar with the fiesta. He got his start at age six when he served as a page. Gerlach is a member of the barbecue committee and helps with the annual fish fry. He and his wife, Marissa, have one son.

Charles Jones has been with the Texas Citrus Fiesta for six years and has served on the board for four years. He is currently serving as chairman of the Golf Committee. Jones is general manager of Awesome Paging and Awesome Net.

Oscar Martinez started with the Texas Citrus Fiesta when his daughter, Morgan, was crowned Princess Anna in 1999. His second daughter, Mariah, was crowned Princess Anna in 2002 and his third daughter, Mackenzie, served as Princess of Lemon Blossom in 2004. His wife, Missy, was Princess Anna in 1972 and currently serves as chairman of the Product Costume Show. Martinez has been a Fiesta director for five years and serves as vice-president. He also serves his community as a member of the Mission Consolidated Independent School District board of trustees, where he is a past president. Martinez is a member of the board of Options Inc. He is employed as a CNS Sales Specialist with Seporacor Pharmaceuticals. He is a member of Conway Avenue Baptist Church.

Luisa Ruiz, board member, has been active in the Texas Citrus Fiesta for 14 years and has served on the board for six years. She is the proud mother of two former Queen Citriannas: Jennifer was Queen Citrianna LXV, and Jessica, who was Queen Citrianna LXIII. She and her husband, Rolando, also have another daughter, Angie. She is a past president of the Mission Chamber of Commerce board of directors. She serves on the Mission Historical Museum’s Financial Committee and is a member of Mission Proud. Ruiz is a realtor with Real Estate Investments and attends Holy Rosary Catholic Church.

Norma Sanchez currently serves as secretary for the Texas Citrus Fiesta. She has been a volunteer for nine years and board chairman for four years. She has served as parade chairman and currently is serving as coronation co-chair. Retired from the City of Mission, she served as secretary for the Veterans Memorial Booster Club and secretary for the Rio Grande Valley Firefighters and Fire Marshal’s Association for 14 years. Sanchez is the mother of two children and is a member of St. Paul’s Catholic Church.

Ralph Valdez has been with the Texas Citrus Fiesta board for four years. He has worked as chairman of the Parade of Oranges for three years. He has been a member of the Knights of Columbus for 15 years and is a past District Deputy, Grand Knight and Navigator. Valdez served as FFA alumni president for two years. He attends St. Paul’s Catholic Church. He and his wife, Sara, have one daughter, Rachel Marie.

No Texas Citrus Fiesta would happen without the guidance of the Executive Director Berta Filut who works year-round to see that everything comes together in January. She has been employed by the Fiesta for 16 years and has served as CEO for 12 years. She also heads the Texas Citrus Fiesta Ladies Group. In addition to the work with Fiesta, Filut serves on the Mission Historical Museum’s Exhibit’s Committee. She is treasurer for Catholic Daughters of the Americas. Filut was named Mission Woman of the Year in 2005 because of her dedication to the Fiesta and the City of Mission.