MSU Alum named Woman of the Year by "Hispanic Business" magazine
Former Wichitan Frances Garcia is known for many firsts.
She was the first in her family to graduate from college and the first Hispanic woman to become a certified public accountant in Texas.
"If you are born early enough, you get to count a lot of firsts," said Garcia, who was recently named Woman of the Year by Hispanic Business magazine, which recognized her for her significant achievements and advancements as a Hispanic woman in America. Garcia is featured on the cover of the magazine's April issue.
Garcia, 67, said this recognition is a testament to the teachings of her mother, who unlike her, did not have as many opportunities to attain an education.
"She wasn't a woman that had opportunities for education, but she knew that if I applied myself and worked hard and kept my core values, I would succeed," said Garcia.
Garcia grew up in Wichita Falls' East Side, in an area known to many as "the barrio," and attended Wichita Falls High School. Her parents worked common jobs to support their family. Garcia also worked.
She worked her way through high school and into college where she at times attended classes on crutches, and went on to graduate from Midwestern State University with a degree in business administration.
After college, Garcia joined Arthur Andersen in Dallas, the first woman and Hispanic audit manager hired by the office.
Her first stint with the U.S. government was in the Carter Administration in the Copyright Royalty Tribunal, where she became the chair.
After she spent some time in the private sector, Garcia was hired by the U.S. Government Accountability Office. She has been inspector general at the government's top watchdog since 1996.
Garcia oversees the audits and investigations of the GAO, which keeps tabs on how Congress is spending taxpayer dollars.
"It's a job that requires a lot of integrity and accountability," said Garcia of her job, which effectively makes her the watchdog of Washington's top watchdog agency.
Garcia said her success has not always been easy, but has been worth the work.
She encouraged people of similar upbringing and Hispanics in general to continue to strive for excellence because of an increasingly competitive job market and the current state of the economy.
"A lot of Latinos come from economically challenged families and their grades suffer. They need to do what they can so they can level the playing field," said Garcia.
"There are many out there that have A's and resources and I'm not one of those fortunate individuals, but this is the great thing about America. America is the land of opportunity and hope, one of the things that my mother always believed in." Reprinted courtesy of Times Record News