2025 Tour Local Honorees for San Angelo
Gary Acevedo – Organ Donor
“My brother Gary had a big heart and was always ready to lend a hand wherever it was needed. He proudly served as a City Councilman and County Commissioner, dedicating himself to being a voice for he people in his precinct.
He consistently put others before himself and lived a life of service and compassion. Gary was a hero to many – both in live and beyond.
Even in his passing, he continued to give; his final, selfless gift was being an organ donor.
Gavino Madrid – Organ and Tissue Donor
Gavino had a deep passion for sports – always ready to play, to cheer, and to give his all. But the greatest game was the one he played with his heart, especially in serving our Catholic Church.
If at first you met Gavino, you might have thought he was quiet. But once he knew you, the real Gavino came alive – full of laughter, energy and joy. He had a smile that you couldn’t help but notice and catch yourself smiling back.
He loved deeply, lived fully and gave generously of himself. His faith, his warmth and his laughter are treasurers we will carry with us forever.
Tim L. Vasquez, Cornea Recipient
Tim is a donor cornea recipient for both right and left eyes, from 2004 and 2010. He was diagnosed in the United States Navy with a corneal thinning condition in 1995. He went on to work as a Paramedic in Eldorado Texas until the eye condition led to his first transplant. He changed careers and was managing his newly established transplant. He once again needed an additional transplant for his other cornea.
Tim says he is very grateful to his donors for providing him the ” The Gift of Sight”, in return he has become an established photographer in many genres of photography. He has been published in many publications, news media, and has photographs displayed at several business locations showcasing his photography for all to enjoy. He continues to thrive with his donor cornea each and every day. Outside of working in healthcare he is also a Marketing Director for a San Angelo magazine where he continues to share his gift of sight.
Monica Robles – Living Organ Donor
“In 2011, I had the privilege of being a living kidney donor for my husband, Albert. The decision was easy—it was through a paired kidney donation, which meant my choice impacted not just our family, but another as well. This gift gave my husband five more years with our son, who is now 20.
Another family also received more time with their mother, and that brought me peace. Peace in knowing I helped someone live longer, love longer, and experience more life.
Albert passed away on May 5th, 2015—Cinco de Mayo. But what remains isn’t just the loss. It’s the legacy. The reminder that we all have the power to make a difference. And that’s what organ donation gives us—a second chance at life!”
Mark S. Brown – Tissue and Eye Donor
Mark is being honored for his donation of tissue and eyes at his passing. The Ocular tissue donated helped give the gift of sight to two people.
From a young man, Mark Brown worked in the movie theater business from security to management of the Texas Theater, Sherwood Way, Village, and Drive Inn movie Theaters in San Angelo and Lubbock. As a Christian he and his wife taught 4, 5, and 6-year-olds Sunday School Class for many years.
As a 1979 graduate from ASU in Finance Mark’s passion was teaching and helping others. He received his series seven license for stocks and bonds broker and insurance licenses. He also taught Texas Alcohol Beverage Commission training courses, First Aid/CPR courses, and Concealed Handgun Classes. He saved many lives and wanted to be a positive person for our community.
As a person with a generous heart to his fellow man and to the San Angelo Community he was honored to have over 15 years of perfect attendance with the San Angelo Westside Rotary Club, where he worked to become president. He later volunteered as a Lion and was a charter member of the Concho Valley Law Enforcement Lions Club in 2011, later to East Angelo Lions Club and he served as the first District 2-A1 Alert Chairman for several years. He and his wife, Carole, were honored with a Lions International Presidential Award in 2012 in the district winter conference. He served on the East Angelo Lions Club board until his passing. He believed in the Lions Motto “We Serve”. Mark was very proud of his family and loved them very much.
As a long time teacher, his wishes were to continue giving and teaching and did this in life as well as death. He chose to donate his Corneas to the San Angelo Lions Eye Bank and his body to the Texas Tech Willed Body Program for teaching and research for one year.
Jan Pipkin: 115 Donations (30 Gallons) of Hope
When most people talk about donating blood, they remember a single moment—a drive at work, a community event, a call for help after a storm. For Jan Pipkin, that moment has stretched across a lifetime.
Jan’s journey began with one simple decision: to give what she could to help someone else. One pint turned into many. The years passed, the world changed, but Jan’s quiet routine remained the same—rolling up her sleeve and offering a gift only she could give.
To date, Jan has donated 115 donations, which is 30 gallons of blood. That’s more than 890 individual donations—enough to fill a backyard swimming pool, and more importantly, enough to touch thousands of lives. Newborns in neonatal intensive care units. Accident victims in the middle of the night. Cancer patients fighting through treatment. Strangers whose names Jan will never know, but whose tomorrows were made possible because of her today.
Jan never set out to break records. She simply answered the need, over and over again. Each visit to the blood center became a promise: that someone, somewhere, would have another chance.
The Lone Star Circle of Life bike ride exists to tell stories like Jan’s—stories of people who believe in the power of life-saving donations. Riders pedal mile after mile across Texas to remind us that every pint counts, every platelet matters, every organ, tissue, or marrow donor can be the reason someone else gets to see another sunrise.
Jan Pipkin’s 115 donations equaling 30 gallons of blood represent more than numbers. They represent hope. They remind us that giving is not a single act, but a way of living.
So as the cyclists roll through town and the wheels hum along Texas roads, we honor Jan—and everyone who gives life in the quiet, steady way she has.
Because of Jan Pipkin, thousands of hearts are still beating. And because of people like you, that circle of life keeps turning.
District 2A-1 & 2T-3 Lions Club – Donation Supporters
The members of District 2A-1 and 2T-3 clubs help the Lions Eye Bank in Transporting human ocular tissue to local surgery centers and from one district to another through the Lions Relay Transport System. Our coverage area is 95,000 sq miles and our Lions help drive our ocular tissue after procurement and even help deliver our transplant tissue to or local surgeons when we have ocular emergencies.
The Lions also help in providing eyeglasses and eye exams to those in need in our district as well.
Beckham Fox – Searching for a marrow or stem cell donor
Beckham is six years old and lives in Montgomery Texas. His mom says he is amazing and mature for a six-year old. He is very athletic and loves flag football. He is even on a select league. Although his mom is an Aggie and his dad went to SFA, he has a teacher at his elementary who played Florida Gators Volleyball, so now Beckham wants to be a Florida Gator. Beckham also has Severe Aplastic Anemia.
Beckham is a patient at Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston. He is receiving platelets, but is searching to see if there could be a matched donor for him for a marrow or stem cell transplant.
Lara Coleman Slaughter and Howard Coleman – Organ donor and recipient
Howard Coleman suffered from undiagnosed diabetes and sustained an infection in his foot that had to be treated with intense antibiotics. The drugs negatively affected his kidneys. His daughter Lara said, “My father was on dialysis my senior year in high school.
That summer, after graduation and before starting college, I donated a kidney to him. I am proud to say he is still healthy and functional today – 24 years later!
Over two decades later, we live within a half-mile of each other and he helps take car3e of my kids.”
Randy Jordan Reyes – Organ Donor
Randy Reyes died September 30, 2018 at age 22. He saved the lives of seven individuals through organ donation and enhanced the lives of several others through tissue and eye donation. Jordan was a humble, giving and hard-working soul, and it would only be appropriate for his legacy to live on through organ, tissue and eye donation.
He was a talented soccer player starting at the young age of 4. He was one of the top scorers for Lake View High School and was very proud to be part of the 3-time district championship team. Jordan graduated from Lake View High School in 2014 and continued to try and accomplish his dream of playing soccer on a professional level. He was invited to try out for the Kansas City team and for an international league. While pursuing his dream he played in the local Mexican league alongside his brother winning the League Championship prior to his death.
While soccer was his dream, his son was his pride and joy. Jordan’s life completely changed the first time he held his son, Niko. His son not only has his father’s features but also has a passion for soccer. Jordan’s memory continues to inspire his son on and off the field.
To know Jordan was to love him. He enjoyed being around his brother and cousins. His favorite hangout place was his grandparents’ house, especially for Sunday potlucks. We as a family were truly honored and blessed to have had him for the 22 years, he was alive. His passing has left such tremendous emptiness in our lives. Although it has been 7 years since his death, we will forever mourn his loss. His gift of organ donation has made us so proud but knowing the selfless man he was we wouldn’t have expected less.
Landra Stanley Organ and Tissue Donor
Mrs. Landra Stanley was a well-known PE Teacher, devoted mother and loving wife. She was also an organ, tissue and eye donor. Her legacy lives on through others. She helped save so many lives at her young age of 37.