Rededication Ceremony

City of Corpus Christi

CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS - (News Release) The city celebrated a Rededication Ceremony on Monday, September 9, for the newly remodeled Tex Villarreal Vector Services Center in Corpus Christi.

After many years with the Corpus Christi Animal Care Services Department, Vector Control has now joined forces with the Corpus Christi-Nueces County Public Health District. This change aligns with best practices and highlights our commitment to protecting our city from mosquito-borne diseases like West Nile virus.

The building is dedicated to Augustin “Tex” Villarreal, a 41-year City of Corpus Christi employee who retired in 1985 and was a distinguished military veteran. In 1944, Villarreal voluntarily initiated a mosquito eradication project in Corpus Christi, supported by the U.S. Public Health Service, later named the CDC. His pioneering efforts led Corpus Christi to national prominence in 1966 with the development of the underground mosquito fogging technique, which played a crucial role in eradicating disease-carrying mosquitoes and safeguarding lives during the St. Louis Encephalitis outbreak.

Photo courtesy of City of Corpus Christi