Romos ’68 Named 2025 Legacy Award Recipients

Fred Romo '68 and Andrea (Anderson Betnar) Romo '68 of Ozark, Ark., will receive the University of the Ozarks' Alumni Legacy Award during the 2025 Ozarks Awards Ceremony on Friday, Oct. 17. The ceremony will take place in conjunction with the University's annual Homecoming Week.

The Alumni Legacy Award recognizes Ozarks graduates "who have given unselfishly of their resources to support the University and its mission during their lifetimes." Recipients are selected by the University's administration.

The Romos, married for 30 years, have been steadfast supporters of the University for nearly three decades, contributing to the Ozarks Annual Fund and other campaigns. Both have also served their alma mater-Fred as a member of the Board of Trustees and Andrea as a member of the Alumni Association Board.

A native of Cuba, Fred came to the U.S. in 1962 at the age of 17.

"I landed at the airport in Miami, Florida, with nothing but a small suitcase and high hopes," he said. "Fidel Castro was in charge in Cuba, my home country, and my parents wanted me out of Cuba for my own safety. Now I was in the United States with nowhere to go and no one who knew me. Since I was a minor, immigration at the airport placed me in a temporary foster home in Coral Gables, Florida. Classes at Coral Gable High School were interesting but useless since I did not know enough English to understand the lectures or textbooks."

Later that summer, he was placed in a permanent foster home in Des Moines, Iowa.

"I was blessed to go live with the Greenwood family, where I learned more English and graduated from high school," Fred said. "Classes at Roosevelt High School in Des Moines had been challenging, so I had established my own English as a Second Language protocol. During each class period, I chose five words from the chapter being taught, and I concentrated on memorizing those five words and their meanings, using an English-Spanish dictionary. By the end of each school day, I had learned 30 words, which amounted to 150 words each week."

In the spring of 1964, Fred applied to Ozarks, where he was accepted and awarded a work scholarship. At Ozarks, he served as president of Phi Beta Lambda and Alpha Phi Omega, and was elected Outstanding Senior by his classmates before graduating with a business administration degree in 1968. He went on to serve two years in the U.S. Army and later embarked on a 24-year career with Whirlpool Corporation in Fort Smith, Ark., retiring as manager of global manufacturing.

Following his retirement and consulting work with Whirlpool, Fred taught Introduction to Business and Spanish for Law Enforcement at Arkansas Tech University-Ozark Campus. He also served as director of the Ozark Area Chamber of Commerce until a permanent director was hired and has been active in the Ozark Area Literacy Council, where he taught English as a Second Language to native Spanish speakers.

Andrea, who grew up in Ozark, received a work contract to attend Ozarks as an accompanist for the University choir and for voice lessons. She also worked for the English Department.

"At the time, I did not fully appreciate the generosity of those who donated my scholarship money," she said. "Now that I am on the other side of that situation, I know how important it is to be a scholarship donor."

Andrea majored in English, with minors in French, music, and education. She was elected secretary of the Student Government Association as a junior, was active in numerous organizations, and graduated Summa Cum Laude. She later earned a master's degree in English from Arkansas State University.

Her 36-year teaching career focused primarily on English, geography, and French. In retirement, she has remained active by playing the piano and organ, volunteering as a gardener for downtown Ozark and her Methodist church, performing in handbell choirs, and traveling with Fred.

"Life's been good, and I credit my college education with sending me down a path of joy and learning and life-changing experiences," she said.

To kearn more about Homecoming 2025 or to pre-register, please visit HERE.

Topics: Alumni Stories