News

Rey Gonzales is celebrating 30 years of service on the Battleship Texas Foundation board! Mr. Gonzales is the president of Universal International Services, Inc. and has been a U.S. Licensed International Customs Import Broker for 52 year. He is a retired Colonel in the US Army, he serves the Greater Houston community through many organizations, and he is a proud grandfather of three. We would like to recognize Mr. Gonzales for his many years of service, and share with you some of his other works and achievements.

In addition to his service with the Battleship Texas Foundation, Mr. Gonzales serves with:

• University of Texas Health Science Center (UTHSC) Development Board
• Friends of UTHSC PAC, Treasurer
• Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo
  • Lifetime Vice President and Board Director
  • Vice President/OIC (2010-2012) of Corporate Development
  • Rodeo Ticket Sales, Go Tejano, Special Children, and Premium Seating Committees
• Greater Houston YMCA Board

And Mr. Gonzales’s previous service includes:

• Port of Houston Commissioner
• University of St. Thomas (UST) Trustee
• Houston Hispanic Forum
  • Co-founder
  • President
  • Director
• Houston Boy Scouts of America Council Chairman
• District Export Council
• UH Center for Business Analysis
• UST Center for International Studies
• The Houston Police Foundation
• Port of Houston Authority Small Business Development Council
• Greater Houston Partnership
• World Trade Supervisory Board
  • Chairman
  • Maritime & Aviation Committees
• U.S. Senatorial Hispanic Advisory Group
• Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson’s Hispanic Advisory Group

Mr. Gonzales’ military service includes:

• Colonel, Corps of Engineers, USAR (Retired)
• Engineer Group Commander, Republic of Vietnam
• USAID Province Engineer
• US Army Officer Promotion Boards
• Published The Fourth Arm of Defense (The Status of the U.S. Merchant Marine)
• Army Advanced Engineer Officer’s Course
• U.S. Army Command and General Staff College
• The Army War College

Mr. Gonzales has been recognized with the following awards:

• Presidential Volunteerism Service Award
• American Spirit Medal
• President Reagan’s Medal of Merit
• DOC International Excellence Award
• DOC-SBA Minority Businessman of the Year
• Hispanic Community’s Man of the Year
• Hispanic Lifetime (with Spouse) La Vida Award, 2016
• Comcast Hispanic Hero, 2017
• ITMA Transportation Person of the Year
• Aga Khan International Economic Service Award
• Republic of Vietnam Public Works Honor Medal

Thank you and Bravo Zulu to Rey Gonzales for 30 years of service to Battleship Texas!