Past Events

President of SWP Honored as a Pillar of Success at UTPA

(EDINBURG, Texas March 2, 2010)...Tim A. Tully, president and founder of Southwest Precision Printers, L.P., was honored on February 19 as a ‘Pillar of Success’ at his alma mater, University of Texas-Pan American (UTPA).

Nearly 200 family members, friends, faculty, staff and students came together to celebrate the opening of the ‘Pillars of Success’ exhibition, which features the photos and success stories of five distinguished alumni that will be on display in the university’s Visitor Center for the next two years.

This is the fourth class of honorees who are selected by the President’s Executive Committee from a list of nominees recommended by a Visitors Center Exhibit Committee comprised of faculty and staff. Each inductee or their representative talked about the university’s role in their success after being introduced by UTPA President Dr. Robert S. Nelsen, who welcomed them back to their alma mater.

Tully, a Dallas native, attended Pan American University in 1968 with a baseball scholarship, playing on the 1971 championship team under acclaimed coach Al Ogletree. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in physical education, Tully started his career in sales for a reprographics company owned by a college friend’s father. He ventured out on his own in 1975 to start Southwest Precision Printers in Bellaire, Texas. That company, which he leads as president, is now the largest independently owned commercial printing company in Houston, providing services worldwide and winning countless awards for printing quality and graphics excellence.

Dr. John Edwards, vice president for Enrollment and Student Services, said the Visitors Center has housed 11 exhibits since it opened in 2002 and has had more than 200,000 visitors, including thousands of Rio Grande Valley students.

"We keep this display up for a period of two years because we want our visitors and students to know what this university is producing - outstanding graduates. These Pillars of Success stand as role models for paths we want our students to follow," he said.