Dr. Alfredo Tomas Garcia III is a second-generation graduate of The University of Texas at Austin. His wife, two sons, and siblings also graduated from UT Austin. He and his wife, Alma, have four children, three sons and a daughter. His father, Mr. Alfredo Tomas Garcia, Jr., is the honoree of the Mr. Alfredo T. Garcia, Jr. Endowed Presidential Scholarship in Pharmacy.

Alfredo Jr. was dedicated to educating himself and his children, as he saw education as a way to improve the life of his family. He was dogged in the pursuit of this personal goal. This model has been instilled in his children, and Alfredo Jr. fulfilled his dream by encouraging the education of his children and grandchildren.

Alfredo Jr. graduated from the UT Pharmacy School when there were very few Mexican Americans attending The University of Texas. At the time, he was a role model for many in the small community of Alice, Texas. His education made it possible for him to educate his family of seven children.

He felt he should postpone his education at UT to go into the military after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, but he was turned down for service because of poor sight. This kept him in Texas, where, as an owner of a small business, he employed many people in the course of over 50 years. Many of the people he hired to work in his Alice pharmacy went on to college, some studied pharmacy, and others continued on to study medicine. He impacted the lives of many individuals by his example of hard work and dedication.

Alfredo’s son, Dr. Alfredo Tomas Garcia III, like his father, wanted to serve as a role model for Hispanics, so he wanted to donate to an endowment at The University of Texas at Austin. Dr. Alfredo Tomas Garcia III graduated from the UT Pharmacy School in 1971 and studied medicine in Guadalajara, Mexico. He is now a cardiologist in Houston.

He married his last year in pharmacy school and his father was concerned that he would not finish his studies. He did, in fact, continue with his studies and has completed 30 years of private practice. Dr. Garcia believes that any money, effort, or time spent on education is always worthwhile. His children have been encouraged to “follow their bliss in endeavors they love and find challenging because it is hard to get up every day and not find satisfaction in life’s work.”

The Mr. Alfredo T. Garcia, Jr. Endowed Presidential Scholarship in Pharmacy was established by the Board of Regents of The University of Texas System on July 29, 2011, to benefit the University of Texas College of Pharmacy. The endowment honors Mr. Alfredo T. Garcia, Jr. Gift funds were provided by A. Tomas Garcia III, M.D., and friends and family.