Page 4 Where are they now? EL UVALDE TIMES September 14,1991 Gilbert Ruiz: from football star to the Governor's Cabinet in Illinois Uvalde is proud of the triumphs of individuals that once we knew simply as ’’local kids”. Today we present a distinguished member of the Governor’s Cabinet for the State of Illinois, the Director of Financial Institutions, Mr. Gilbert G. Ruiz. During his high school years in Uvalde Gilbert was an outstanding football star. He was a smiling boy, quiet but very popular. Last week he was in Uvalde to attend the funeral services of his dear friend and classmate, another very much loved former Uvaldean, Jimmy Cruz. We had the opportunity to meet at RJ's Restaurant to talk about his successes and to remember our youth in Uvalde. Gilbert graduated from Uvalde High School in 1965 and two years later graduated from Southwest Texas Junior College. He then moved to the state of Illinois where he obtained his license as a technologist in radiology, a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration from Illinois State University and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Roosevelt University of Chicago in 1979. Beginning as Assistant Manager for Radilogy Services at the Holy Family Hospital in Des Plaines, Illinois, Mr. Ruiz continued advancing in administrative positions in several hospitals in Illinois, arriving to the position of Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Martha Washington Hosptial in Chicago. He began this post in August 1990 and by May 1991 he had managed to reorganize the hospital, taking it out of bankruptcy and tripling the daily Lunch Specials $3.95 Lunch Buffet Open 10:30 a.m.to 3p.m. 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Closed Saturdays 2202 E. Main 278-1030 patient census. At the same time, according to an introduction in a recent radio interview in Chicago, he reduced the deliquent accounts from 1.3 million dollars to $50,000. Another major,, accomplishment of Gilbert Ruiz is his establishment of HispanoCare, an independent association of doctors that serve the hispanic community of Chicago and which incorporates the hispanic culture into the delivery of health care. This group understands the necessity of effective English-Spanish communications and it helps unite hispanic patients and the doctors and hospitals that serve them. The program, however, is not restricted to hispanic patients. Individuals that pay a nominal fee to become members are not only served by network physicians in their neighborhoods, they also receive discounts for medical services. When Governor Jim Edgar received 40% of the hispanic vote from the City of Chicago and 70% from the suburbs, it was obvious that he had received the support of hispanics. During his campaign he had promised to help hispanics. He kept his promise by naming the first hispanic as Director of Financial Institutions. Gilbert Ruiz, having already established himself as an outstanding administrator, was chosen to keep the Governor's promise to the hispanic community of Illinois. The agency Mr. Ruiz directs is charged with investigating, examining, licensing and regulating money exchange procedures, and supervising credit unions. It is also the indefinite custodian of unclaimed properties, such as unclaimed valuable items from bank deposit boxes, money in bank accounts which have had no activity for over seven years, making efforts to find the rightful owners, heirs or beneficiaries. In addition to his important job, Gilbert has created four U. S. patents related to the medical field. He formed his own company, Marc Medical Products Inc., a manufacturing and marketing firm specializing in developing new and innovative medical products. During our interview, Gilbert asked that we send warm greetings to all his friends and said he was very happy to share his new appointment. He said it had come as quiet a surprise since he did not know Governor Edgar personally. As many of us who no longer reside in our hometowns, but still feel the same love for the place where we had our beginnings, Gilbert has the same desire to do something for our people. During the gathering of school friends to accompany Jimmy Cruz to his final rest, an idea arose to have more frequent reunions, and in this manner develop ideas of how to help today's youth in our home town. We agreed that it is important that all of us who are in a position to help our people in one form or another should do it. After realizing that both of us had received scholarships to Southwest Texas Junior College from the American Legion Post 479, we also agreed that perhaps if it had not been with that little push that the Legion had given both of us we would not find ourselves that Saturday morning, he as an important official for the Sate of Illinois, and myself as an aspiring journalist. Send us your organization's news. The deadline is the first Saturday of each month. El Uvalde Times 231 S. Getty ST. Uvalde, Texas Governor Jim Edgar of Illinois poses with his new Director of Financial Institutions, Gilbert Ruiz . El Governador Jim Edgar aparece aqui con el su nuevo Director de Instituciones Financiales del Estado de Illinois. It is important to note the tribute that Gilbert and I in that restaurant, gave to some special teachers that had so much to do with developing our spirit to succeed in school. Teachers like Mr. McAfee Daniel, who introduced us to English and American literature with such enthusiasm, and who would take us to see theater plays in San Antonio and Mr. W. B. Sherman, who was the first to encourage Gilbert to go to college. For my part I will always remember my english teacher, Mrs. Lillian Moore who always insisted that I should continue writing. For two students of humble families of the sixties, the encouragement of those teachers is still with us, many years after they have left their profession. Gilbert’s parents were the late Carlos and Pascuala Ruiz. Since his mother passed away when he was 5 years old, Gilbert feels Continued on page 13 • Prizes • A wards • Gifts Thee Book Shop has what you need, \ See our Videos for rent. *: "eeee.eeee.eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee* I 278-2266 229 N. Getty MAINauto supply inc. Ei lugar para comprar partes para su automobil Ahora abrimos los domingos! 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Lunes a viernes Sabado 7 a.m. - 6 p.m.______7 a.m. - 5 p.m. 130 S. Camp St. 278-3355 »$ 11 Uvalde 1964— Uvalde Coyote Gilbert Ruiz wore No. 25. He was named All District Running Back that year. Gilberto Ruiz en 1964 cuando fue nombrado el Mejor Running Back del Distrito al que pertencia la Escueal Secundaria de Uvalde.