OLLU Alum Gil Coronado Was the “Padrino” of Hispanic Heritage Month
Did you know that an Our Lady of the Lake University alumnus played a pivotal role in creating the national celebration now known as Hispanic Heritage Month?
Colonel Gil Coronado (BA 1975), a longtime San Antonian with deep roots on the city’s West Side, was widely known as the “Padrino,” or godfather, of Hispanic Heritage Month. While serving in Washington, D.C., Coronado worked with members of Congress to expand the original weeklong Hispanic heritage observance into a full month recognizing the history, culture and contributions of Hispanic Americans. His efforts helped lead to legislation signed by President Ronald Reagan in 1988.
Coronado’s remarkable career was defined by service. After joining the U.S. Air Force as a teenager, he rose to the rank of colonel and served during the Vietnam War and in assignments around the world. His military honors included the Legion of Merit and Bronze Star Medal. He later made history when President Bill Clinton appointed him the first Hispanic director of the U.S. Selective Service System.
Education was also central to Coronado’s story. He earned his bachelor’s degree in sociology from OLLU in 1975, crediting the university with helping him advance professionally and personally. He remained a proud alumnus and supporter of OLLU throughout his life.
Coronado passed away in February 2026 at age 89, surrounded by his family. In May, OLLU posthumously awarded him an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree during Spring Commencement. His surviving family received the degree in recognition of his extraordinary service to the nation, the West Side community, and the university.
“OLLU was the beginning of a new life for me,” Coronado said of the university’s impact on his personal and professional journey.
Coronado’s legacy lives on each year from Sept. 15 through Oct. 15, when communities across the nation celebrate the Hispanic heritage he worked so hard to elevate.
