Ernesto Nieto is the founder of the National Hispanic Institute and has served as President since the organization's inception in 1979. Born in Houston, Texas, Mr. Nieto attended Jefferson Davis High School and entered the University of Houston on an athletic scholarship. Nieto later transferred to Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas, where he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Education in 1964 with a specialization in special education. After working on his graduate degree at the University of Houston, he served in various management positions in both the state and federal government.
“Joe was a wonderful, modest, thoughtful person who loved Southwestern and brought great intentionality to everything he did in serving his alma mater,” says Rick McKelvey, vice president for institutional advancement.
Tennis was Southwestern University alumnus Ken McAllister's third choice. A Fort Stockton (TX) High School standout in basketball and golf, he was disappointed not to make New Mexico Highlands University's basketball team as a freshman. He was even more upset that the school dropped its golf program the year before he arrived. Nearly out of athletic options, he happened across a flyer in the gymnasium one day announcing tryouts for the tennis team.