b"The Garcia familys generational giving to Texas A&M University strengthens their bond to Aggieland and one another. By Michele Schevikhoven 21B erta and Eduardo Eddie Gar- receive a degree, earned her bach- of his father's and uncle's bravery-cia 70 raised their daughterselors in English with a minor inand service led Eddie to Aggieland. to appreciate the value of a qualitySpanishfromSouthwestTexasVictorwasamongthosewho education. So when it came time toState (now Texas State University)defended the island of Corregidor discuss college, the winning choiceand her masters in education fromin Manila Bay during World War II,was clearand heavily incentivizedCorpusChristiStateUniversityandheappearsinthefamous by Eddie. I told them, You can go(now Texas A&M University-Cor- photo of the Aggies who mustered to school wherever you want, hepusChristi).Shetaughthighthere in 1946.joked, but Ill cover all expenses ifschool for 30 years before retiring you attend Texas A&M University!and joining Eddie as an agent in hisOnce on campus, Eddie fell in love financial services business. Theywiththeuniversityscamarade-Three Aggie rings later, Eddie, Bertaresided in Corpus Christi for 40rie, core values and curriculum. and their daughters, Rebecca 98, years where they raised their threeHe studied electrical engineering Rosella 00 and Rubiana 03, aredaughters. and joined the Corps of Cadets, honoringAggielandsimpactinwhich introduced him to lifelong theirlivesbyplanninggiftsforEddies parents, Eduardo Sr. andfriends and a passion for service future generations of Aggies.EmiliaRodriguezGarcia,andthat led to his Naval career during hisuncle,VictorRodriguez45,the Vietnam War. After two tours, Setting the Standard inspiredhiscollegejourney.Ahe earned his masters in business womanbeforehertime,Emiliaadministration from Pan Ameri-Raised in Laredo, Texas, Berta andgraduated from college in the earlycan University (now the University Eddie learned early on that higher1940s, while Eduardo served in theof Texas Rio Grande Valley) and education was the path to opportu- Navy. His mother's example as anstarted his own fi nancial services nity. Berta, the fi rst in her family toeducator coupled with war storiesbusiness in 1990.6 | TEXAS A&M FOUNDATION|OFFICE OF PLANNED GIVING"