OFFICE OF GOVERNOR WILLIAM P. CLEMENTS Jr. December 2, 1980 For Immediate Release: Eddie Aurispa today was named Special Assistant for Mexico and Latin American Relations on Governor Bill Clements' staff. Aurispa, 31, of Laredo, former executive director of the Good Neighbor Commission of Texas succeeds G.G. Garcia who is anticipating federal employment. As the youngest and only Hispanic state agency director, Aurispa headed the Good Neighbor Commission staff August 1977-October 1980. Earlier, he was acting executive director, deputy director and migrant labor coordinator for the Commission. In his new position, Aurispa will work directly with the Governor on a broad range of projects and programs in which Texas shares a mutuality of interests with neighboring countries. Aurispa is a graduate of Baylor University and Laredo Junior College. He resigned from the Good Neighbor Commission staff last October to become senior campaign assistant and director of Hispanic Texans for Reagan-Bush. He recently received the 1980 "Good Neighbor Award," an annual recognition presented by the International Good Neighbor Council. Also this year, he was named by the U.S. National Jaycees as an "Outstanding Young Man of America." In 1979, the Mexican Government presented Aurispa an award as "Favorite Son" of Jalostotitlan, Mexico (birthplace of President Lopez Portillo). "Eddie Aurispa is truly an outstanding young man--and one in whom I have great confidence to assist me in continuing efforts to improve communications between our neighboring countries and state government," Governor Clements said. "He has deeply impressed me in our initial moves to develop close friendships with the governors of the border states in Mexico. I know his services will be invaluable as we broaden our contacts and refine the programs we have launched."