Amador receives Special Award

By MONETTE TAYLOR | South Central Texas Edition

Three generations ... Dr. Jose Amador (center) was honored with a Special Award during a luncheon at the Texas Produce Convention. Amador was surrounded by family and friends at the luncheon. Pictured with Amador is his son Danny (left) and grandson Kailer. -- Staff photo by Taylor

Sept. 2, 2004 - Dr. Jose Amador, a plant pathologist and center director of the Texas A&M University System Agricultural Research and Extension Center at Weslaco, was surrounded by family and friends when he received the Texas Citrus Mutual's Special Award at the recent Texas Produce Convention in San Antonio.

Amador is retiring, next year, and the award was presented to honor his accomplishments and dedication to the citrus industry.

Farm and ranch radio broadcaster Charlie Rankin presented Amador with his award and noted that, " ... as the director of the Citrus Center and a friend of the citrus industry, Dr. Jose Amador has been able to work from inside the TAMU system to protect important traditions at the center and to see that its first priority is to serve the interest of citrus growers."

During an Aug. 13 luncheon at the convention, Amador's family joined in the celebration of his work. Present were Amador's wife of almost 40 years, Silvia, and two of their three children and their families - his son Danny and wife, Jennifer, along with baby Riley and 2 1/2-year-old Kailer; and daughter, Marilu Amador-Harman, and husband, Dean. Another daughter, Silvie Amador-Bibb and husband, Pat were traveling and unable to attend.

Born on a small sugar cane farm in Cuba, Amador attended both public school and Catholic schools as he was growing up. After graduating from the University of Havana in 1952, Amador eventually found his way to Louisiana State University to earn a master's degree in 1957, and his Ph.D. in 1965.

His career with TAMU began in 1965 as an Extension plant pathologist, before being appointed center director at Weslaco in 1991.