FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
DATE:  April 22, 2004
CONTACT: Ellen Rossi, College of Business, (361) 825-6045; Melissa Goonan, Public Affairs, (361) 825-2337

College of Business Honors 2004 Kirkland Distinguished Visitor Joe V. Elizondo
Outstanding students will also be recognized at the annual ceremony
           
The College of Business (COB) at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi will honor Joe V. Elizondo, sole proprietor of Greenwood Door Company of Corpus Christi, as this year’s recipient of the G. Russell Kirkland Distinguished Visitor in Business Administration Award on Tuesday, April 27.

Elizondo will give a community lecture in Warren Theatre located in the Center for the Arts from 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. Following the lecture, the COB will hold its annual Honors Luncheon at noon at the Solomon P. Ortiz International Center where Elizondo and outstanding business students will be recognized.

An active participant in civic and political affairs, Elizondo is on the Executive Board of the Corpus Christi Regional Economic Development Board as Treasurer, Executive Board of the Corpus Christi Hispanic Chamber of Commerce as Parliamentarian, and the Board of Directors of the Christus Spohn Health Systems. He is also on the Executive Board of the Corpus Christi State Aquarium, the Board Member of the Boys & Girls Club, and the Committee of STARS (South Texas Academic Rising Scholarships), which is designated to raise funds for scholarships in South Texas.
 
At the Honors Luncheon, eighty-three students, who will soon graduate with honors, will be recognized.

Beginning in 1995, the G. Russell Kirkland Distinguished Visitor’s Chair in Business Administration was created by friends of the late Mr. Kirkland and Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi to honor Kirkland’s distinguished service to the development of the University, the city of Corpus Christi, and South Texas. The purpose of the Chair is to make a maximum positive impact upon the lives of students and to provide concurrent benefits to the development of A&M-Corpus Christi faculty and the enrichment of the South Texas community.

Bio:  Joe V. Elizondo
Entrepreneur and Sole Proprietor
Greenwood Door Company
 
A native South Texan, Joe V. Elizondo, entrepreneur and sole proprietor of Greenwood Door Company of Corpus Christi.
 
Mr. Elizondo was born inKingsville, Texas and later moved to Corpus Christi where he graduated from W.B. Ray High School in 1965, thereafter attending Del Mar College and studying further in Monterrey, Mexico. He joined the United States Marine Corps and was assigned to the 3rd Marine Division. He served in Vietnam and became a highly decorated soldier. Among the medals awarded to Mr. Elizondo were the Bronze Star, three Purple Hearts, Presidential Unit Citation, Navy Unit Citation, Meritorious Unit Citation, Vietnam Service Medal (three stars), Vietnam Campaign Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Rifle Expert Badge, and Pistol Expert Badge.
 
He began his business career selling cars and won a trip to Acapulco for having the highest sales figures in a month. At that point, he realized that if he could sell for others, he could make a profitable future for himself by opening his own business. He opened Maximiliano’s Hand Carved Furniture. Working with wood led him to investing his efforts in the door business, which has been his continuing livelihood through the establishment of Greenwood Door Company. 
 
Currently, Mr. Elizondo is involved in international trade with Mexico and Russia on a daily basis.  In August 2001 Mr. Elizondo took 27 people, consisting of individuals from the Port Authority of Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and other businesses throughout the city, to the United States-Mexico International Trade Mission held in Mexico City. Following the event, Mr. Elizondo treated the group to a historical and cultural tour of Mexico. He has also met with President Bush and President Fox, as well as other state and national figures, to ensure and promote the progress of Corpus Christi and South Texas. He recently accompanied a delegation from Corpus Christi to meet with State Representatives, Vilma Luna and Gene Seaman, and House Speaker, Tom Craddick, to discuss education and economic issues for the City of Corpus Christi.
 
An active participant in civic and political affairs, Mr. Elizondo is on the Executive Board of the Corpus Christi Regional Economic Development Board as Treasurer, Executive Board of the Corpus Christi Hispanic Chamber of Commerce as Parliamentarian, and the Board of Directors of the Christus Spohn Health Systems. He is also on the Executive Board of the Corpus Christi State Aquarium, the Board Member of the Boys & Girls Club, and the Committee of STARS (South Texas Academic Rising Scholarships), which is designated to raise funds for scholarships in South Texas.
 
In April 1999 Mr. Elizondo was presented with a United States flag that had flown over the White House in Washington D.C. for his highly decorated, meritorious commitment to his country as a United States Marine during the Vietnam War. Among his other many awards and recognition are: Outstanding Citizen Award by the United Married Couples Club, induction into the Moody Hall of Fame, El Reconocimiento Merito Empresarial (Businessman of the Year Recognition) Award presented by the Government of Mexico-Secretary of Relations (given to only eight business individuals once a year throughout the United States), 2001 Businessman of the Year by the Corpus Christi Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, 2001-2002 Compass Award by the Corpus Christi Regional Economic Development Board, 2003 Honorable Mention for Hispanic Heritage by the Corpus Christi Caller-Times; 2003 honoree by the United States Marines Auxiliary Club; and the 2004 Annual Distinguished Business Award by the El Dorado Club at Texas A&M University-Kingsville.
 
For the past ten years Mr. Elizondo has been a benefactor of scholarships and awards for the Moody High School VIP Baseball Player of the Year. He actively supports charitable organizations, sponsors several little league sports teams throughout theCorpus Christi area, as well as the Corpus Christi Cudas Swim Team.
 
Mr. Elizondo married his wife, Jeannie, at the Vatican in Italy, and they have five children and thirteen grandchildren.