Impacts Last a Lifetime
M
y name is Joseph Romeo Ozuna I was born and raised in Rio Grande City, Texas. I grad uated from Rio Grande City High School in 2000 and received my degree from Texas A&M University Kings ville in 2006. My father and mother are both retired educators for RGCCISD where they served the youth in the district for 40 + years. I have a younger brother Luis Aaron Ozuna who is a Customs and Border Protection Officer and who is my best friend. I have two children that have been the most absolute blessing in my life my son Joseph Paul and daughter Keirsten Alexa. My great grandfather Sabas Ozuna was the foreman for Las Islas Ranch back in the late 1890’s which was later named as the Vannie Cook Foundation. My grandfather and his brothers dropped out of school to become cowboys and help
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their father manage the ranch and this is where it all started. My grandmother was born and raised in Las Escobas Ranch which is about 27 North West of Rio Grande City, Tx. So, as you can see both my grandparents came from ranching backgrounds. My grandfather was a work horse working from sun up to sun down teaching my dad and his brothers the values of hard work ethics, responsibly, and always instilling that when a man gives his word and shakes your hand you always follow though no matter the good, the bad, or the ugly and that if you stood by those values your reputation would make you or break you. In 1960 my grandfather leased 640 acres and along with my dad and uncles operated 125 head of commercial cattle and in 1962 he was given the opportunity to purchase the land for $17.00 an acre. Being that he was the only bread winner in the family the bank would only loan him enough for 200 acres, so he bought them. In 1978 my
