A Long Overdue Award for a Cross-Border Bridge Builder
By Gil Sperry
San Diego Mexican Culture Examiner
"San Diego and Baja California...for as long as many of us can remember... have had a symbiotic relationship as far as the nurturing of Mexican
culture is concerned. Many locals call the sprawling bi-national megalopolis on-the-border by the easy-to-remember moniker-merge of San Juana. Great
cuisine, art, education and entertainment in both countries have also become relatively easy-to-access for trusted travelers. In fact, in addition to
the burgeoning traffic lane-crossing expansion, a walk-across path is even being built to the international airport just south-of-the-border, allowing
US citizens economical and convenient access to fly-in distant Mexican destinations. One of North America's premier scenic highways allows both
residents & visitors to have easy access to nearly a thousand miles of drive-to premier ocean-front recreational destinations. All of this might
never have occurred if it weren't for the efforts of an unassuming man whose mythic efforts for the past four decades as one of the leading promoters
for the San Diego-Baja California region...as a business leader, a community advocate, and as an elected representative...are finally being officially
recognized.
This year's 10th Annual Visionary Awards are Southern California's premier leadership recognition event. On May 24th, LEAD San Diego will honor Hugo
Eduardo Torres as the recipient of their prestigious Charles Nathanson Memorial Award for Cross-Border Region Building. The festivities, to be held at
the Hilton San Diego Bayfront, will begin at 5:00 PM. Over a thousand of the region's top leaders are expected to attend a gala evening capped by the
all- important awards presentation. will honor Hugo Eduardo Torres as the recipient
of their prestigious Charles Nathanson Memorial Award for Cross-Border Region Building. The festivities, to be held at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront,
will begin at 5:00 PM. Over a thousand of the region's top leaders are expected to attend a gala evening capped by the all- important awards
presentation.
LEAD San Diego has been both attracting & honoring emerging and seasoned leaders for the past thirty years. They look to "...help these
individuals expand their skills, enhance their understanding of salient civic issues, and leverage their connections and knowledge" for the greater
good of the cross-border region. Hugo Torres is a perfect fit for their criteria.
Rosarito Beach has been his home since he was a seven-year old boy. Since subsequently receiving his formal education at top universities in both the
United States and Mexico...and best known as the owner of the famous Rosarito Beach Hotel...he has been active in bi-national and regional issues
since the late-1960's.
Amongst other notable touristic and civic achievements, he was elected President of his city's first Tourism and Convention Committee, founded the
Grupo Madrugadores citizen's group, and formed the Comite Pro-Municipio de Rosarito which over a 12 year course under his leadership led to the
incorporation of the City of Rosarito and independence from Tijuana.
Before incorporation, he served his constituents as a delegate to the City of Tijuana. He was elected Rosarito's first Mayor (from 1995-98). In 2006,
public support and security concerns led him to run for (and win) another stint as Mayor (from 2007-2010). During his second term he revamped his
city's police department, installed a new Chief, replaced 60% of the force, established higher training standards, and improved the City's security to
its highest levels in ten years.
His focus has always been on promoting stronger cross-border relationships in every area. He has led efforts to work with Rosarito's 14,000 +
expatriate community, donated a facility to help establish the first Club de Ninos y Ninas (Boys and Girls Club) in his city, expanded Rosarito's
Foreign Resident's Assistance Office, hosted the 5th Bi-National Mayor's Forum, and continues to work closely with both the San Diego Regional Chamber
of Commerce & the San Diego Association of Governments.
In 2002, he was one of 40 bi-national leaders named as the recipient of San Diego Magazine's 20/20 Regional Leaders Award and more recently, in 2007,
was recognized by the award-winning Tijuana-based newspaper Zeta, as "Man of the Year."
Don Hugo Torres is quite definitely a Cross-Border Bridge Builder and most deserving of receiving LEAD San Diego's 10th Annual Visionary Award. The
people of both sides of the border eagerly await what he has planned for future projects to better their lives."
“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow mindedness.”
—Mark Twain
\"La vida es dura, el corazon es puro, y cantamos hasta la madrugada.” (Life is hard, the heart is pure and we sing until dawn.)
—Kirsty MacColl, Mambo de la Luna
\"Alea iacta est.\"
—Julius Caesar
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