2013 Distinguished Alumni Honoree
Mr. Carlos Galvez, ’60
Born in Guatemala and raised in northeast Oklahoma, Carlos Galvez asserts his military service and education helped him make the most important decision in his life – to become a U.S. citizen.
“Changing one’s nationality is not an easy decision,” he says. “However in my case, it became evident that this is my home and this is where I wanted to raise my family.”
Galvez was sent to Oklahoma when he was seven. He attended St. Joseph Preparatory School in Muskogee, which had a school culture that made him feel very much at home when he transferred to a military academy. He attended high school at OMA for his senior year, graduating in 1958. He then went on to graduate from OMA junior college in 1960.
At OMA, he achieved the cadet rank of captain and served as a group adjutant during his time at OMA. He was a member of the Chevron Society and the Saber Society, and was recognized as best drilled cadet for 1958-59. Active on campus, he also was a member of the drill team, cadet capers, judge’s bench, Vedette staff, honor court and new cadet detail. He played basketball and was a member of the bowling team. He fondly recalls his memories of trips taken with the drill team and representing OMA in the public.
Following graduation, he served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1962-1968. He went on to work in the hotel and construction industry while going to night school at the University of Tulsa, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration in 1969.
He parlayed that experience into a nearly five decade career in the pipeline construction industry, where he worked internationally in the Middle East, South America, the Far East and Africa. He has been involved with major pipeline projects, including the Trans-Alaska Pipeline, Trans-Ecuadorian Pipeline, IGAT Pipeline in Iran, and the Alto Magdalena in Colombia just to name a few.
Following his retirement, he has provided consulting services working in the pipeline industry to assist companies in maximizing their assets.
“The education received while attending OMA prepare many of us to pursue careers in various fields. Though our enrollment was never very large, I am still quite impressed by the number of successful individuals generated by this institution,” he says.