The Pan American Royals pose after being announced at the Royals Coronation Ball in 1970 at the Echo Motor Hotel in Edinburg. Shown are Belinda Gomez (from left), Mary Bentley, Livier Hernandez, Gilma Longoria and Gloria Gene Moore. This is among the photos from the University of Texas-Pan American archives and can be found in the UTRGV Digital Library at scholarworks.utrgv.edu. COURTESY PHOTOThe Pan American stage band performs during the Royals Coronation Ball in 1969. This is among the photos from the University of Texas-Pan American archives and can be found in the UTRGV Digital Library at scholarworks.utrgv.edu. COURTESY PHOTO
This year marks the ninth anniversary of celebrating Homecoming Week at UTRGV.
Decades before UTRGV was created, the tradition of Homecoming began as early as 1928 at Edinburg College.
“The University’s Royals Program History beginnings appear with the creation of Edinburg College’s Best All-Around Boy and Girl at the Collegiate and Secondary School levels,” according to scholarworks.utrgv.edu.
Rosalinda “Koki” Villegas gives an acceptance speech after being crowned Miss Pan American at the Royals Coronation Ball during Pan American Week in 1969. This is among the photos from the University of Texas-Pan American archives and can be found in the UTRGV Digital Library at scholarworks.utrgv.edu. COURTESY PHOTO
In 1952, Edinburg College began its transition into Pan American College, where the Bronco Queen was introduced, as per the website.
Similar to the criteria of the university royals UTRGV has now, they were selected based on their performance on and off campus.
With the formation of UTRGV in 2015, the university has continued to celebrate the long-standing traditions set by legacy institutions Pan American College and the University of Texas-Pan American, which was formed in 1989.
