Fort Bliss Honors UTEP President
University of Texas at El Paso President Diana Natalicio received Fort Bliss’ Christiaan Petrus Fox Citizen of the Year Award during the annual State of the Military address Aug. 3 at the Centennial Club on post, according to a news release.
The award honors a local civilian for their contributions to and support of the military and Fort Bliss.
“(Natalicio’s) continued efforts to improve the quality of life and education opportunities for all those she comes in contact with is exemplary and gives newcomers a special bond to the University of Texas at El Paso,” said Maj. Gen. Dana Pittard, post commander. “Her leadership and guidance feeds the minds and the spirit of Fort Bliss soldiers and families. The Master’s in Leadership (Studies) program and numerous educational opportunities allow soldiers and their families to grow and improve their horizons. … Under Natalicio’s guidance, the UTEP-Fort Bliss partnership continues to grow as plans develop to celebrate the university’s 100th anniversary. Her actions embody the highest standards of honesty, integrity, courage and loyalty, and deserve recognition as the Christiaan Petrus Fox Citizen of the Year, 2010.”
Other recipients of the award include Greater El Paso Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Richard Dayoub (2009), El Paso Mayor John F. Cook (2008), UT System Board of Regents Vice Chairman and Western Refining Executive Chairman Paul Foster (2007), First Light Federal Credit Union President and CEO Karl Murphy (2006) and retired Maj. Gen. James P. Maloney (2005).
“I am deeply honored to receive this award and I do so on behalf of the outstanding students, faculty and staff who have enabled UTEP to transform itself into a major opportunity generator for residents of this Paso del Norte region, including the rapidly expanding population at Fort Bliss,” Natalicio said. “All of us at UTEP understand that military personnel and their families face unique challenges in achieving their educational goals, and we’ve been working hard recently to build closer ties between UTEP and Fort Bliss with the goal of expanding opportunities for them to achieve their educational aspirations. UTEP’s first campus in 1914 was at Fort Bliss, and our vision as we approach our centennial in 2014 is to have the UTEP-Fort Bliss partnership recognized as a national model of excellence.”
According to the news release, the award is named after Fox, who was known affectionately as “Mr. El Paso.” Fox drove a truck train that carried supplies to Gen. John J. Pershing’s troops 200 miles south of the border during the Punitive Expedition. Fox served with the U.S. Marines during World War I and served as the civilian aide to the Secretary of the Army for Western Texas and the entire 4th Army Area from 1959 to 65.
During World War II, and again during the Korean and Vietnam conflicts, Fox edited, published and distributed the “Home Town News” to hundreds of El Pasoans serving in the Armed Forces. He strongly supported giving the Replica Museum of Old Fort Bliss to the military to show the appreciation of the citizens of El Paso. He also played a large role in the 100th anniversary commemoration of Fort Bliss in 1948.
