EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — El Paso businessman Richard A. Castro was awarded an honorary degree earlier this month.
Castro, a McDonald’s franchise owner since 1983, was awarded an honorary doctor of humane letters by Texas State University during a ceremony on May 8.
“The prestigious recognition honors Mr. Castro’s decades-long commitment to education, community service, and leadership,” a news release said, announcing the degree.
Castro is the largest Hispanic owner/operator within the McDonald’s company, overseeing 27 McDonald’s locations in Texas with more than 2,000 employees.
“His leadership has been instrumental in advancing the representation of Hispanic entrepreneurs within the fast-food industry. As the founder of McDonald’s Triunfadores and a former president of the McDonald’s Hispanic Owner/Operators Association, Mr. Castro has left an indelible mark on the industry,” the news release said.
Castro has also established scholarships that benefit student-athletes and students from the College of Liberal Arts at Texas State University. According to the news release, his efforts have contributed nearly $2.3 million to Texas State University, including a $1 million matching fund for student-athletes in 2017.
Castro also co-founded Community en Acción (CEA), a network of Hispanic leaders dedicated to supporting El Paso’s Latino community. CEA honored him in 2018 by establishing the Richard Castro Community Service Scholarship, recognizing his “unwavering dedication” to the region, the news release said.
Additionally, Castro is known for his creation of the Hispanic American Commitment to Educational Resources (HACER) Scholarship Program in 1985, which has awarded more than $33 million in scholarships to Hispanic students nationwide, the news release said.
His partnerships with El Paso Community College, the University of Texas at El Paso, and McDonald’s El Paso have further expanded educational opportunities for local students, the release added.
Castro also serves on various boards and organizations, including serving on the Board of Trustees of Our Lady of the Lake University and numerous local and national nonprofit organizations.
He was named the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Hispanic Businessman of the Year in 2005 and El Pasoan of the Year in 2015.
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