By Karen Villarreal

RIO GRANDE VALLEY, TEXAS – NOV. 10, 2023 – Five UTRGV School of Medicine students and faculty recently were recognized for their service in the U.S. Armed Forces by a local quilting organization.

The Rio Grande Valley Quilt Guild made and presented five quilts at a small ceremony held in the School of Medicine lobby on Monday, Oct. 30, 2023. The comfort quilts, each with an original design, were gifted to a service member as a symbol of gratitude for their service.

“I know how much time, love and energy goes into these,” said Dr. Michael Hocker, dean of the UTRGV School of Medicine, who served as a Lieutenant commander and Flight Surgeon in the U.S. Navy. He was stationed with the marine aviation wing for his last active-duty assignment in Kaneohe, Hawaii.

“You put all that love for your country into these, and we thank you,” he said.

Hocker, also senior vice president of UT Health RGV, received a red, white, and blue quilt made by members of the RGV Quilt Guild.

Diana Wolf, incoming president of the guild, said the quilts are made by their 15 “bees” with donations of the materials. Many hours of valuable time and expert labor go into each quilt, she said.

“Our quilters work together,” Wolf said. “Some do the back pattern, and others work on the front design.”  

In addition to Hocker, the quilts were awarded to: 

• Everado Cobos, chair of Medicine and Oncology, who enlisted in the field artillery of the U.S. Army and later served as a U.S. Army general medical officer in South Korea.
• Jessica Salinas, department administrator with UTRGV SOM Neuro Behavioral Health, who served with the U.S. Navy.
• Patricia Clem, a registered nurse with UTRGV Student Health Services who served as a lab tech with the U.S. Army.
• And Russell Williams, a first-year SOM student who served in the 82nd Airborne Division of the U.S. Army.

Russell Williams, a first-year SOM student who served in the 82nd Airborne Division of the U.S. Army, poses with his quilt and Lucy Klass, chairperson of the RGVQG, and Marty Morrison, guild quilter. (UTRGV Photo by Karen Villarreal)

Dr. Jessica Salinas, department administrator with UTRGV SOM Neuro Behavioral Health, who served with the U.S. Navy, poses with her quilt with Kathe Letulle, former president of the RGVQG. (UTRGV Photo by Karen Villarreal)

Patricia Clem, a registered nurse with UTRGV Student Health Services who served as a lab tech with the U.S. Army, stands with her quilt and Diana Wolf, RGVQG in-coming president, and Marty Morrison, guild quilter. (UTRGV Photo by Karen Villarreal)

Dr. Everado Cobos, chair of Medicine and Oncology, enlisted in the field artillery of the U.S. Army and later served as a U.S. Army general medical officer in South Korea. He poses with his quilt with Marty Morrison and Dale Shafer, guild quilters. (UTRGV Photo by Karen Villarreal)