Legends and Legacy Community Award

 

Ayala is a retired major general who served 36 years in the United States Marine Corps. He is currently director of the Military and Veteran Affairs Department for the city of San Antonio.

Ayala’s military service also includes four combat tours in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Other past military assignments include coordinating humanitarian assistance programs in 50 countries throughout Africa, Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Bloc; serving as the chief of staff at United States Southern Command; supporting humanitarian relief operations after the Haiti earthquake of 2010; supporting Haitian/Cuban refugee operations; and coordinating civilian law enforcement counterdrug efforts. Before his retirement, Ayala commanded all 24 Marine Corps installations worldwide and was selected to lead the Department of Defense’s 2015 Warrior Games, assisting the nation’s wounded, ill and injured warriors in their recuperative efforts.

Ayala’s military awards include the Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit with “V” Combat Distinguishing Device, Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal (four stars) and the Combat Action Ribbon. He is also the recipient of the Excellence in Military Service Award from the League of Latin American Citizens, the Heroes of Military Medicine Award from the Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, and the Latina Style Magazine Lifetime Achievement Award.

He currently serves on the Texas governor’s Advisory Council on Cultural Affairs and is a visiting instructor at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. He is an avid cyclist and hiker who has completed the 500-mile El Camino de Santiago Walk in France/Spain. Ayala earned degrees from Campbell, the U.S. Naval War College and UTEP.

 

 

 

Blackwood was the executive director of San Antonio Sports from 1996 to 2013. During her tenure, she transformed the nonprofit organization, growing its annual budget from $125,000 to $3.4 million, with more than 60% dedicated to funding programs helping children establish healthy lifestyle choices. Thanks in large part to her decades of experience in sports management and high-level contacts throughout the amateur and professional sports world, San Antonio continues to host some of the nation’s most prestigious sporting events. From NCAA Men’s and Women’s Final Fours to NCAA volleyball championships to Rock ’n’ Roll San Antonio Marathons, Blackwood’s efforts continue showcasing San Antonio and placing the city’s dateline on sports pages around the world. Under her leadership, San Antonio Sports has led legislative efforts and secured state funding through the Texas Event Trust Funds Program. At the time of her retirement, the incremental tax on major events generated more than $18.4 million in rebates to the city of San Antonio.

From 1997 to 2013, Blackwood taught sports management at the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, the University of Texas at Austin and the University of Texas at San Antonio. Her work did not stop with her retirement. After stepping down, Blackwood undertook a massive fundraising effort for TeamSA, raising more than $750,000 for the San Antonio Sports endowment, benefiting San Antonio children and families through programs and college scholarships. Before joining San Antonio Sports, she was a key member of the USA Basketball board of directors, serving as vice president for women’s basketball, as well as other leadership positions on various committees.

Blackwood is a major force on the local and national sports scene and a valued asset to the city of San Antonio, Bexar County and the state of Texas. Her 2017 induction into the San Antonio Sports Hall of Fame is recognition of her many contributions and accomplishments.

 

 

 

Byrd is chief growth and strategy officer for Perfected Claims — a firm that leverages technology and people power to provide client acquisition, management and settlement support to thousands of clients on behalf of some of the nation’s top mass tort litigators. Byrd is also founder and managing partner of ULTRAte Strategy and Advisors, a management consulting firm based in San Antonio that helps clients establish clear corporate/organizational vision, set strategic focus, and design and energize the governance and operational leadership structure to execute efforts.

ULTRAte, through Byrd’s direction, also advises chief executives, board leaders and senior executives on how to navigate challenging business issues, while also keeping perspective and focus during difficult times and in chaotic environments. The industries and clients to which Byrd provides his expertise include philanthropy, health care/medicine, higher education, technology, real estate, sports and entertainment, hospitality, and the nonprofit sector and its leaders. Byrd has led the strategic and operational efforts of one of the nation’s most ambitious and complex real estate redevelopments, has co-founded and led a groundbreaking nonprofit organization, and has facilitated the long-term visioning and strategic planning for corporate and nonprofit boards. He speaks nationally in vision setting, strategy, public engagement and leadership. He is the former CEO and managing director of the Pearl in San Antonio. He also co-chaired the successful $850 million San Antonio Bond Program in 2017 and designed the largest infrastructure bond investment in downtown San Antonio history. Byrd is a current board officer of the McNay Art Museum. Byrd, who received his bachelor’s degree from Hampton and his master’s degree at Clemson, lists his “why” in his life and work as “we all need someone to believe in and fight for us.”

 

 

 

For over 50 years, Macon has made an indelible mark on San Antonio, leaving a legacy of impact. As the first female city attorney, she served San Antonio to ensure its south side was able to procure land to expand Texas A&M-San Antonio. Macon is a champion for San Antonio. Her philanthropic generosity is well known, and she has supported causes ranging from parks and museums to children. She raised thousands of dollars annually for After-School All-Stars and Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas. Immediately after the Uvalde shooting in May 2022, Macon corralled community leaders to begin fundraising to support families and locals affected by the horrific tragedy. She also ensured an expansion of her After-School All-Stars chapter. A force to be reckoned with, she is a connector and supporter of women and people of color, advocating tirelessly for their rights. Macon launched the Texas chapter of the influential International Women’s Forum, serving as president, and she continues to lead the local chapter to this day. Along the way, she met Muriel Siebert, the first woman to hold a seat on the New York Stock Exchange, which later led to work with the Siebert Financial Corp.

Many credit Macon for helping grow San Antonio and consider her to be a highly accomplished woman who defers recognition to those around her. She is considered a huge advocate for the city, in addition to other entities, such as the Alamodome, the River Walk and the Spurs. She is known for working with key community, city, state and national officials to keep the city and community thriving.

 

 

 

Thomas is the founder and CEO of Blessed Angels Community Center, Blessed Angels Senior Center, Blessed Angels Senior Dance and Fitness Studio, and Blessed Angels Home Delivery Service. Blessed Angels is an emergency food pantry that is committed to helping citizens in need. Blessed Angels Community Center was founded in 2014, and as of December 2024, the organization has served over 2.3 million senior citizens, children, homeless people, veterans, evacuees and families in need with hundreds of thousands of pounds of groceries, diapers, toiletries, medical supplies, heaters, fans, blankets, pet food, school supplies, gift cards, toys, COVID-19 supplies and other essential items. Blessed Angels donated over $2.5 million in hardship funding to Uvalde families at Robb Elementary School and awards over $10,000 in scholarships each year to support the educational pursuits of underserved students.

Blessed Angels Senior Center is a nutritional site that has helped close to 1,000 senior citizens lead active, independent and engaged lives. Seniors get a midday meal, exercise, nutrition, wellness, educational classes, computer classes, arts and crafts, bingo, dance classes and more. The senior center also has a free grocery delivery service and offers a mini grocery store. Blessed Angels partners with numerous departments and agencies for the betterment of the senior community.

Thomas is a philanthropist, entrepreneur and humanitarian. Her deepest passions are fighting hunger and helping seniors. A native of San Antonio, Thomas lives by theologian John Wesley’s motto: “Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.”