Thursday, February 1, 2018

NEW PCT. 1 WAREHOUSE TO BE NAMED FOR ANASTACIO GUILLEN

Special to El Rrun-Rrun

Anyone who worked for Cameron County or for Precint One from the late 1960s to as late as 2006 , had to have met the late Anastacio Gaitan Guillen.

Guillen, who came from the old Road and Bridge school of county road crew experience, died in 2008.


But in those 40-odd years, he established a tradition of hard work, political savvy and a knowledge of the county road system unequaled in Cameron County.

With his trademark baseball cap and stubborn hard-work demeanor, he schooled several generations of county employees under his care.

Now, following the 2001 unanimous dedication by the Cameron County Commissioners’ Court of a resolution naming the new Precinct 1 Public Works Brownsville Warehouse in his honor, a ceremony to do so will be held 9 a.m. Friday (February 2) at the site of the new structure.

The new building is ocated at 2050 S. Browne Ave., across from the Pedro "Pete" Benavides Cunty Park.

In his 40-plus years of service to county residents, served under the following Pct. 1 Commissioners: Tony Tamayo, Johnny Cavazos, Ted Hunt, D.J. Lerma, Lucino Rosenbaum, and Pete Benavides. Current commissioner Sofia Benavides moved for the new warehouse to be named after Guillen.

After retiring, he owned and operated 20 acres of farmland some of which he later developed into Guillen Cemetery on Boca Chica Road just past Browne Road.

He was also a longtime parishioner of Christ the King Catholic Church where he was involved with Valley Interfaith. His name will be affixed to the new building in honor and recognition of his long time service to the residents of Cameron County.

Guillen was born in McNeil, Texas on April 27, 1923. As a young boy his family moved to Valle Hermoso, Tamps., Mexico where he met and married his wife, Angela Chavira, from Olivia, Texas. He and his wife moved to Brownsville more than 50 years ago where they raised their family of 11 children. Many are teachers and professionals of which he would proudly talk about if given a chance. 

As a young boy he moved to Valle Hermoso, Tamps., Mexico where he met and married his wife, Angela Chavira, from Olivia, Texas. He and his wife moved to Brownsville more than 50 years ago where they raised their family of 11 children.

He worked for Cameron County Pct. 1 as a Foreman for the Road Maintenance Dept. for over fur decades. During that time he served under the following Pct. 1 Commissioners: Tony Tamayo, Johnny Cavazos, Ted Hunt, D.J. Lerma, Lucino Rosenbaum, and Pete Benavides. 

After retiring, he owned and operated 20 acres of farmland some of which he later developed into Guillen Cemetery. He was a longtime parishioner of Christ the King Catholic Church where he was involved with Valley Interfaith.

The new Anastacio Guillen Precinct 1 Public Works Building will be built on a 21-acre tract of land located at the intersection of California and Browne Road.

The building is 9,000 square feet and will house the Precinct #1 Public Works staff. It’s divided into two major functions: an Administrative Area consisting of an entry waiting lobby for visitors, staff offices, a meeting conference room/lounge, and building-mechanical spaces. 

The second area is the crew vehicle storage bays which utilize some enclosed storage to protect large equipment, along with a wash bay for these vehicles.

This site also includes a parking area for visitors and employees. It also has a large lay-down area for public works stock materials with plenty of room for expansion.

The building utilizes a steel structure with metal studs and concrete masonry unit
(CMU) walls clad with grey and blue horizontal and vertical metal panels. The exposed steel columns and beams at the crew vehicle bays will be galvanized and have metal panel soffits to finish off the underside of the metal roof structure.

Guillen and the Pct. 1 road crews labored out of the existing Pct.1-Pct. 2 warehouses on 14th Street. But time has taken its toll on the building and the commissioners court passed a bond issue to construct new warehouses for all four precincts.

8 comments:

safetyman said...

He was a great public servant

Anonymous said...

By Robert Sanchez
Shenanigans of Eddie Trevino
part 1

Here are some facts of many. When Mr. Trevino was Mayor, everyone and himself included, knew the position did not have a salary, but he pushed for our city to spend $100,000.00 on a special election so he could get paid $100,000.00 per year. Mr. Trevino is always about money for himself. Him first, and the citizens after. When he was Mayor and on the PUB Board, he wanted to SELL PUB because the PUB was in the red. I and other Board Members stopped the sale, implemented cost saving measures, and the PUB became financially strong again. PUB was not sold to one of Mr. Trevino’s friends and also a campaign donor of his. Then, Mr. Trevino jumps into the PUB as counsel and begins billing the PUB close to one million dollars per year while he was Cameron County Judge. Over billing . Once again, it was about money for himself. Him first, then the citizens after. And then as council to PUB he was involved with the Tenaska contract and when City Commissioners and the citizens wanted to know about the deal, Mr. Trevino did not answer them and sent them to the Attorney General. This Tenaska deal raised rates by 40% and over $100,000,000.00 sit in an account of the PUB. Mr. Trevino seems to be hiding something. I mean, he organized the deal, why is he not open about the deal to all of us who paid the 40% increase in utilities? If you do not believe me then ask him why he resigned the 1 million dollar a year job at BPUB. Mr. Trevino always thinks about himself before the voter. His record proves this. Also, Mr. Trevino lied when he gave 1 million dollars to UNITED BROWNSVILLE to create UNITED BROWNSVILLE. UNITED BROWNSVILLE is non existent. He lied again. If someone knows where UNITED BROWNSVILLE is, PLEASE LET ME KNOW.

Anonymous said...

What a beautiful tribute to Mr. Guillen, but isn't it a shame that one waits to pay tribute after the person is gone. However, his family are sure to honored for receiving this award on behalf of their Dad, who did so much for them. His children are his true legacy and I have known most of them for the fine persons that they all are and productive citizens to our community - carrying on their Daddy's Legacy. Congrats to the Guillen family.

Anonymous said...

Why spoil such a beautiful memorial with the likes of Eddie Trevino's problems and tricks??? This belongs to the Guillen family to pay tribute to their wonder Don Guillen.

Anonymous said...

back then, they were the 3,Guillen,Willie and Ramon;They could shave the fuzz of a Peach, with the Blades of there machines all (Cat.s)
The trade mark of Good Operator ( When you saw them standing up and working all those levers)
Those Were The Good Old Days.

Anonymous said...

He like a few beers on the job too !!

Anonymous said...

didn’t caliche Guilen work for judge Tong Garza too ?

Anonymous said...

Hey is Gus Ruiz going to get the free land from his law school mate Bence I see they went to the same school and have there law office next to each other on Tyler.

rita