Remembering the impactful women of South Texas
As the university reflects on Women’s History Month and its impact, a reminder of powerful women in South Texas hangs proud on campus.
Celebrando Mujeres A Travez Del Tiempo, a book release and celebration held in the MSUB ballrooms on March 22, honored the mural of some of South Texas’ most renowned women by Arnold Gonzales and the book it inspired.
After seeing another mural of fallen soldiers from the Vietnam War, Gonzales was inspired to create one honoring women such as Dr. Irma Rangel, Henrietta King and many more.
“The mural would be an inspiration to different young women in A&M Kingsville to be like the women they see and say if she can do it, I can do it,” Gonzales said.
Inspired by the mural, displayed in the MSUB ballrooms, a book was published with several essays about each woman pictured in the painting, entitled Women across Time Mujeres a Traves del Tiempo.
Dr. Larry Knight, a history professor at A&M-Kingsville, was one of the contributing writers. He was tasked with writing about Henrietta King, wife of Richard King who founded the King Ranch.
“You think of the King Ranch as this big monolithic powerful thing, but you see real people here, very wealthy people, very powerful people but suffering just like anybody else was,” King said.
Dr. Susan Roberson, retired Regents Professor from the Department of Language and Literature, served as the editor for the book.
“It was fun working with the different contributors of the different essays, then there’s also the hard work of getting it published, but it’s all paid off,” Roberson said. “I hope students learn how inspiring these women have been.”
The March 22 event was sponsored by College of Arts & Sciences Dean Dr. Dolores Guerrero.