![]() His father, Fred Jr., was a founding trustee of Texas Southmost College. Born in 1946, he was the younger brother to four older sisters, growing up on a family tomato farm in Villa Nueva on the Military Highway. He was a leader with the capability and credibility to gather people together to pursue noble goals in his community. It’s one example of Rusteberg being “a convener,” Downing said. Rusteberg’s comments about the PUF fund set the stage, a forerunner to the UT System creating unified RGV campuses under one name with the sort of funding other campuses elsewhere had seen. “Fred would find the time – make the time – for the community on issues that may not happen today, but set the stage for what may happen in the future,” said Irv Downing, a banking executive colleague of Rusteberg’s era in Brownsville. He was ingrained in his community as a leader for many worthy causes, with education topping the list. Rusteberg often spoke at events featuring education in encouraging local students to attend college. In January, Garcia and other community leaders, friends and family gathered to remember and honor Rusteberg as the main IBC bank in Brownsville was named in his honor. It is just one story of the many about Rusteberg and the legacy and imprint he left on Brownsville. Two decades later, PUF funds are flowing into the Valley and its two UT campuses in Brownsville and Edinburg. Rusteberg’s comments that day infuriated Mark Yudof, the UT chancellor, but the bank executive and community leader had made his point. “He called it what it was, discrimination of the worst kind that had been allowed in perpetuity to hide behind lame excuses and legal technicalities.” “Fred chose that day in a very public arena to challenge the chancellor of the UT System,” Garcia said of the longstanding president and chief executive officer of IBC Bank-Brownsville. The UT campuses in the Valley had been shut out of the fund. ![]() The main UT campus in Austin had long benefited from these revenues, as had other UT campuses. This lucrative fund has as its revenue source the royalties of West Texas oil and gas wells. Garcia, Rusteberg and other community leaders were furious that the UT System was refusing to allow resources from the Permanent University Fund to reach and fund UTB and the University of Texas-Pan American. “There was a bitterness in the air,” recalled Juliet Garcia, the president of UTB at the time. It was to be a festive occasion in celebrating the dedication of new education and business buildings on the campus of UT-Brownsville. One of those times occurred about 20 years ago when the chancellor of the University of Texas System visited Brownsville. Rusteberg could also bring it, when need be, a steely resolve emerging when he saw an injustice or inequity that required a challenge. Rusteberg was known as a gentleman, a soft-spoken and persistent advocate for his banking company and community. Rusteberg, community and banking leader in Brownsville.įred W. He and his wife, Nancy, have two children, Hannah and Jason.A wall of honor at IBC-Brownsville lauds the legacy of Fred W. Villarreal received his Bachelors of Business Administration with honors from the University of Texas at Austin and graduated from the Southwest Graduate School of Banking at Southern Methodist University. He also was a board member for the Greater Brownsville Incentives Corporation and the Brownsville Community Foundation. Previously, Villarreal served in a leadership capacity as the Board Chair for the United Way of Southern Cameron County, Walk Chair for the March of Dimes, Board Chair of the Brownsville Public Utilities Board, and Vice Chair for the Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation. Currently, he is the Board Chair for Guadalupe Regional Middle School, a member of Saint Mary's School Advisory Council, a board member of West Brownsville Little League, and participates in various committees for the Brownsville Independent School District. In keeping with the IBC philosophy of "We Do More," Villarreal is actively involved in several organizations throughout Brownsville. He was also an adjunct instructor of finance at the University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College. Prior to joining IBC, Villarreal worked for several financial institutions, including MBank Dallas and Bank One San Antonio. Villarreal also continues his role as the Head of the Sales and Retail Group in Cameron County. As President and CEO, Villarreal oversees the entire IBC Bank-Brownsville market in Cameron County, which includes branches located in Harlingen, Port Isabel, South Padre Island and Brownsville. Villarreal began his career with IBC Bank in 1993 as a commercial bank officer. With 30 years of experience in the banking industry, Al Villarreal continues to grow his career with IBC Bank by taking the reigns as President and CEO of IBC Bank-Brownsville in September 2016.
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