EDUCATIONAL

• Harris County Department of Education -  In August 1994, was appointed to the Board of Trustees for an interim term as Position 7 (At-Large) Trustee. Publicly elected and re-elected to the same position in November 1996 and November 2002, respectively. Served two full six-year terms beginning January 1997, including service as Board President for the final eight years (2001-2009). Previously had chaired Budget and Audit Committees.
  
  Final day of Board service was January 20, 2009. On that day, was honored for his service to HCDE with the renaming of (to the new name) Annual R. T. Garcia Early Childhood Winter Conference, which is now in its 26th year.

• G. I. Sanchez Charter High School - One of the original 19 state-chartered schools in Texas. Served as Trustee and Board President for the inaugural three years.
   

• Texas Association of School Boards - Earned a Master Trustee designation.
   

• Honors College - University of Houston - Served for 16 years on Advisory Board, including a two-year term as Board President.
   

• Houston Teachers Council - Member of Advisory Board for five years.
   

• University of Houston Alumni Organization - Served six years on the Board of Directors, the final three years as Vice President.
   

• Other - Has taught GED classes, mentored at Davis High School and been involved in various other educational programs for his entire adult life.

PROFESSIONAL

• Texas Board of Professional Engineers -  Licensed Professional Engineer (Petroleum).
   

• Employment - Previous technical,  management and corporate officer positions with Shell Oil, Texas Eastern and Westmount Resources, including European assignments. Since October 1981, has owned R. T. Garcia & Co., Inc. ,  a petroleum engineering and management consulting practice.
   

• Society of Petroleum Engineers - Committee chairman in Gulf Coast Chapter. Elected a Director in London Chapter. Legion of Honor member.
   

• American Society of Appraisers - Earned Accredited Senior Appraiser designation.
   

• Society of Petroleum Evaluation Engineers - Past Director of national Board of Directors.  Past Chairman of Houston Chapter.
   

• Houston Geological  Society - Member since 1980.

COMMUNITY

• Boy Scouts of America - Sam Houston Area Council Board of Directors, with involvement in Learning for Life program and community outreach programs. Past service as Scoutmaster in Houston's Fifth Ward. In 2012, was selected as one of seven recipients of National Eagle Scout Association's Outstanding Eagle Scout Award.
   

• Educational Foundation of Harris County - Member of Community Leadership Board.
   

• First United Methodist Church (Houston) - Member for more than 50 years. Teaches an ESL class on Sunday mornings.