Federico de la Vega Matthews, a Juarez industrialist, has shown an uncommon friendship for the University of Texas at El Paso by establishing the Artemio de la Vega Memorial Scholarship Fund. Through this fund, scholarships are awarded to deserving disadvantaged students from Mexico, with preference being given to residents of Ciudad Juarez. How is it that a captain of industry from a neighboring country has chosen to support higher education in El Paso? Sefior de la Vega was inspired by his father, for whom the scholarship is named. Artemio de la Vega emigrated to Mexico at the age of 14 with only a grammar school education and plenty of ambition. He took whatever jobs he could find until, as a traveling salesman, he worked his way from Mexico City to Tampico, then up the border until he reache.d a dusty little town called Cd. Juarez. Through hard work and integrity, he became one of Juarez's leading businessmen. He gave back to the community in large measure and at the time of his death was one of the most beloved citizen in Juarez's history. Federico, an only child, was taught early the value of education. Artemio sent young Federico to the Culver Military Academy in Indiana to ensure his son a quality education. Recognized as a superior student, Federico went on to receive a degree in chemical engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and completed his graduate study in Monterrey, Mexico. He then returned to Cd. Juarez to assist his father with his multiple business ventures. In addition to assisting his father, Federico de la Vega wanted to be a part of making his city grow. He
FEDERICO DE LA VEGA by Eileen Obermeyer
envisioned large-scale cooperative enterprises with U.S. companies, a concept that has grown into the maquiladora industry. He and a small group of like-minded entrepreneurs were instrumental in persuading RCA to set up the first such operation. De la Vega could see that to sustain such growth in this infant maquiladora industry, education was needed- for both children and adults. Guided by this concern, de la Vega has devoted extensive time and resources to establishing the Technologico Institute, the Universidad Auto noma de Cd. Juarez and the Technologico de Monterrey during the past 26 years. In addition, he wanted to make available the important border resource of a UTEP education to young Juarenses. Longtime UTEP supporter Judson Williams showed him the way, and the Artemio de la Vega Scholarship became a reality. De la Vega's family is strongly connected to UTEP. His wife,
Guadalupe de la Vega, studied psychology at UTEP and went on to organize the Cd. Juarez FEMAP (the Mexican Federation of Community Development Association), which is devoted to community development. She is a muchsought-after speaker on drug prevention and family planning and has addressed such international audiences as the United Nations and NATO. Her talks are particularly in demand because she speaks from the perspective of one who lives in a Third World country rather than as an outsider looking in. The de la Vegas have two daughters (one daugl:ffer, Miriam, graduated from UTEP in 1981), one son and three grandchildren. When asked about his interests outside of business and family, de la Vega replied with a question: "Do you like antique books?" He asked the right person. I love themtheir leathery smell, crisp pages, beautiful bindings and gorgeous illustrations. From his library he produced Don Quixote in two volumes, more than 150 years old, with marvelous, full-color illustrations. As I tenderly turned the pages, being careful not to smudge the edges, he lay before me another, smaller volume, Don Quixote de la Mancha, published in 1671. I felt I was holding a treasure in my hands. Federico de la Vega's obvious love of antique books shows a man who deeply values education. He still follows the adage his father instilled in him: "To whom much is given, much is expected in return." When asked how he would like people to remember him, his reply was simple: "As a person who is interested in education." SPRING 1995 • t 3