Benny Guerra is pictured with his brother Bobby Guerra, right, wife Sara, children Marina and Benito Jr. at his retirement party held at H.M. King High School television station Jan. 28. “I have met a lot of people within the state of Texas, and I have met a lot of people outside the state of Texas, but none of them work as hard as Benny to give back to the community,” said Pete Villarreal.

“Benny has shown that you always have to have a heart for the community.”

Pete, an H.M. King High School honors senior student, was among many individuals who praised Benny Guerra at his retirement party held at the Media Technology television studio Jan. 28.

After 31 years as a KISD employee, Guerra retired Jan. 29.

Many of the guests at the retirement party were media students and former students who echoed the fact that Guerra was instrumental in encouraging them to enhance their media tech skills, creative endeavors, and instilling confidence in them to operate a camera behind the scenes and also interviewing people.

Pete Villarreal, an honors H.M. King High School student, was among the many people who praised Benny Guerra for his work with KISD. Even though, students call him on a first name basis, it is obvious that students and adults respect Guerra for his work ethic, willingness to help others, and an advocate to promote KISD and the community in a positive light.

Bill Waddill, teacher/ advisor of the Media Technology, praised Guerra for his contributions to the students, the community and promoting KISD. When Waddill accepted the position nine years ago he thought he was going to work by himself, and wasn’t too sure if he really needed an assistant.

Waddill soon realized how grateful he was to have Guerra as his partner. He said Guerra, not only taught them media tech skills, but also about life with his good stories.

Bill Waddill, media tech teacher, praises Benny Guerra at his retirement party. The two men worked together for nine years at the H.M. King High School media tech department. “He has been an asset and a founding father for both the Media Center and the television station,” Waddill said. “He is a very positive person, and I look up to him; he has been a mentor to me.”

Waddill told the guests at the party he has spent more time with Guerra than his own family.

“The kids love him and they already miss him and want to know when he is going to visit us,” said Waddill Friday.

Former media tech student, Andrew Barrera praised Guerra for helping him gain his confidence and teaching him how to work with people when he first enrolled in one of the media tech classes. Barrera, a 2006 H.M. King High School graduate, directed the “Imagine” video, a riveting production that warns young people about the dangers of drinking and driving.

Benny Guerra talks to former media tech students who participated in the “Imagine” video that warned young people about the consequences of drinking and driving. They were among the numerous students who attended Guerra’s retirement party. Pictured from left are Guerra, Andrew Barrera, Alicia Trevino, Eric Riojas, and Agustin Erebia. (Photos by Gloria Bigger-Cantu) “He has been my teacher, mentor, and friend,” Barrera said. He said his father Romeo Barrera had been a friend with Guerra as young men.

With Guerra’s influence, Barrera enhanced his creative endeavors. He worked with Guerra two years after high school photographing weddings. Barrera has worked as an assistant coordinator for Judge Martin Chiuminatto for five years.

He continues with wedding, fashion, artistic, photography and his work is featured on his website andrewbarrera.com. Barrera’s goal is eventually to live and work in New York as a photographer.

During his nine years as a Media Tech Department paraprofessional and KVll TV 18, the students have interviewed high profile people like Gov. Rick Perry.

The students interviewed Pepe Serna, actor, Mary Helen Berlanga, and Carlos Valdez Corpus Christi District Attorney in the studio. The media tech students also interviewed Lauro Cavazos, Anne Armstrong, Janell Kleberg, and Helen Groves at book signing events held at the Henrietta Memorial Center.

One time Guerra took the students to a King Ranch breakfast in November.

“I was amazed this was the first time some of the students had been on the King Ranch even though it is in our back yard,” he said.

Guerra projected enthusiasm and professionalism when students became involved with film projects. Two of them were “Imagine” and “Reimagine” that not only included student performers but also representatives from the law enforcement entities and community members.

The sequel to “Imagine,” “Reimagine” was produced in 2009. Fredrick Lopez, the director of “Reimagine,” said in an interview he wanted to work as an actor or director in the future. He is the son of Dr. Rudy Lopez Jr. former KISD superintendent.

One three-month project for the students was working with the law enforcement entities and filming some of their activities.

Other DVD productions include “The Power of the Press,” “A Day in the Life of a Fireman,” and a story on the SWAT team.

“It was a goal mine for KISD that it be an educational opportunity,” Guerra said, referring to the television station. Several of the students have gone on to become audio engineers with different bands. Dan Delgado and Jozannah Quintanilla, two television personalities, related to Guerra they wished they had a program of this type when they were H.M. King High Students.

Guerra admitted that he is going to miss the students and his partner Waddill.

“He is my blood brother and we had a good partnership,” Guerra said.

“The hardest part was saying goodbye to the students and handing the camera and keys to the new person who took my place on Friday,” Guerra said.

He first began employment with KISD as an off set printer at the Media Print Shop that produced all printing such as meal tickets, report cards, contracts and anything else the district needed. Previously, he had worked as an off set printer with the late Rodan Diaz at Rapid Copy. He has worked at a cleaners and also washed cars at K.A. Child’s.

During this time he worked with Olga Martinez who introduced him to photography and dark room printing.

One time someone told him that she heard he took photos and would he like to take photos of her sister’s wedding and that began his wedding photography business that continues 25 years later.

He travels throughout South Texas small cities, and big cities such as San Antonio, Austin, and Houston to take wedding photographs.

After the print shop, Guerra was assigned as a physical education aide at Harrel Elementary School.

“Remember that’s when I lost a lot of weight,” Guerra said. For three years Guerra freelanced for the Texas Highway Patrol and photographed fatalities. He photographed about 55 fatalities.

“I saw that not wearing a seatbelt can result in deaths,” Guerra said.

Photographing these fatalities triggered the idea of producing a video that projects the consequences of driving while intoxicated and observing safety precautions as a motorist.

Retirement plans for Guerra, who is well known in the community, do not include traveling or taking it easy, he plans to work full time with KING TV 69.

He and John Garza are in partnership with the television station that they have owned for a year at CMA Communications.

“Some of my former students want to be a part of the television station,” Guerra said.