Fourteen names. Three schools. One campus.

Rev. Dr. James W. Skinner

A middle-aged South Texas pastor who took the job after others had turned it down. There was nothing on the King land but a well, a windmill and a tank; Skinner and the boys who would become his students cleared the mesquite and built the first sheds, then the first buildings, themselves. He led Tex-Mex from its opening in October 1912 until his death, and helped set policy for the girls' school at Taft.

• Agreed to start the school after others had turned the offer down; began building it from the ground up with the help of Mexican boys who became his students. ppas.org — History
• First president of the Texas Mexican Industrial Institute, 1912 until his death in 1931. Handbook of Texas — Texas Mexican Industrial Institute
• The land had no facilities except a well, a windmill, and a tank. At first, the sheds intended for shops and barns were used as a schoolhouse, a dining hall, and a dorm. Juntos 1988, p. 7
• In January 1914 he wrote to S. Brooks McLane challenging him to come — and to expect hard work. PHSSW — Currie’s Column
• The Skinner/McLane President's Award, given each year to a male graduate, is named for him and his successor. ppas.org — Named Scholarships

Rev. Dr. S. Brooks McLane

Skinner's successor, recruited by that 1914 letter. He ran Tex-Mex for more than two decades through the Depression, the war years and the school's growth to a hundred boys. The 1961 Juntos is dedicated to him; the administration building carries his name.

• He served during the years 1932-1954 as president of the Texas-Mexican Industrial Institute, root of our present institution. Juntos 1961, p. 6
• Retired in 1955 and was living in Kerrville, Texas, in 1963; both of the ex-presidents have continued to give strong support to the school. Juntos 1963, p. 8
• The S. Brooks McLane Administration Building is named for him. Juntos 1992, p. 8

Dr. Berta Murray

Head of the girls' school at Taft for three decades — with love, faith and determination, in the school's own words. Pres-Mex educated more than 700 girls, 200 of them from Mexico, before it closed and its students came to Kingsville. The girls' dormitory and an annual award for a graduating woman carry her name.

• With love, faith and determination, Berta Murray headed that school for 30 years. ppas.org — History
• Named second dean of the school in 1926 and remained its head until it was consolidated with the Texas Mexican Industrial Institute in 1956. Handbook of Texas — Presbyterian School for Mexican Girls
• Retired and living in San Antonio in 1963. Juntos 1963, p. 8
• The Berta Murray Girls' Dormitory was among the buildings made possible by trustee J. Weldon Thomas. Juntos 1992, p. 8

On the faculty pages of 1 book (1958–1958) — every year, with a face →

Rev. Sherwood H. Reisner

The first president of the merged school, and its longest-serving. He rebuilt the Kingsville campus to O'Neil Ford's master plan, oversaw the arrival of the Taft girls and the first international classes, and after retiring became the school's first director of development. Every yearbook from 1960 to 1980 carries his photograph.

• Served as school president from 1956 until 1980; toward the end of his administration the school added a new science building, a gymnasium and tennis courts. Handbook of Texas — Presbyterian Pan American School
• His friendship with architect O'Neil Ford bore fruit in the master plan for the redesigned campus. PHSSW — Currie’s Column
• After 1980 he became the first director of the school's new Office of Development. Handbook of Texas — Presbyterian Pan American School
• The Sherwood H. Reisner Science Building is named for him; the Elena Reisner Eagle Award honors his wife. Juntos 1992, p. 8

On the faculty pages of 24 books (1958–1983), also as Spanish, Mathematics, Office of Development — every year, with a face →

Dr. David R. Gifford

Associate headmaster under Reisner in 1980, headmaster from that autumn. His decade began with Hurricane Allen and the 1982 peso devaluation, and ended with a day department for Kingsville students and full SACS accreditation. He later wrote the school's entry in the Handbook of Texas.

• Succeeded S. H. Reisner as president in 1980; established an office of development; the school opened a day department in 1983 and was accredited by SACS in 1987. Handbook of Texas — Presbyterian Pan American School
• Printed as Associate Headmaster beside Reisner in the 1980 Juntos, then Headmaster from 1981 through 1989. Juntos 1980, p. 9

On the faculty pages of 10 books (1980–1989), also as — every year, with a face →

Richard Wyatt

Known to this archive from a single page: the 1990 Juntos prints him as President, with John Kelly as Principal. The 1989 book still shows Dr. Gifford; the 1991 book shows Elena Reisner. Nothing else about his tenure has been found in the sources consulted.

• Printed as President on the Faculty and Staff page. Juntos 1990, p. 34

On the faculty pages of 1 book (1990–1990) — every year, with a face →

Elena Mackay Reisner

Teacher, wife of Sherwood Reisner, and — for the 1990–91 year — the school's president. The 1991 Juntos prints her simply as President; the school's award page remembers her as teacher and interim president. She stayed on as assistant to her successor through the mid-1990s.

• Mrs. Elena Reisner, wife of Dr. Sherwood Reisner, first Pan Am president; teacher and interim president — the Elena Reisner Eagle Award is named for her. ppas.org — Named Scholarships
• Printed as President's Assistant (1992) and Assistant to the President (1994, 1995). Juntos 1994, p. 8

On the faculty pages of 21 books (1958–1995), also as English, English III, English II, III — every year, with a face →

Abraham Torres M.

President through the first half of the 1990s — the years of the 80th-anniversary yearbook, the death of benefactor J. Weldon Thomas, and a student body drawn from seven nations. The Handbook of Texas records him as president as of 1994; the yearbooks show him from 1992 to 1996.

• As of 1994 Abraham Torres was president. Expected enrollment for 1994–95 was 120, mostly boarding students, representing seven nations. Handbook of Texas — Presbyterian Pan American School

On the faculty pages of 12 books (1965–1996), also as Print Shop Supervisor, Assistant Principal, Government, Assistant Principal, Government, Hispanic American History — every year, with a face →

Dr. James Matthews

Fifteen years, the second-longest tenure after Reisner. He arrived in 1997 as interim president, wrote a letter to every senior class from 1999 on, led the school through its centennial year, and retired with the class of 2012 — yours will be the last roses I hand out and yours will the last diplomas I sign.

• Eight years ago when I first came to this place I made a promise to those students (letter of 2005), which puts his arrival in 1997. Juntos 2005, p. 6
• Printed as Interim President in the 1998 Juntos. Juntos 1998, p. 8
• Yes, I am retiring… as the school enters a second century with new leadership. Juntos 2012, p. 4

On the faculty pages of 13 books (1998–2012), also as — every year, with a face →

Rev. Dr. Doug Dalglish

Reported as the school's new president in September 2014, in the year it just graduated its largest group of seniors ever. He signs the president's letters in the 2016, 2017 and 2018 yearbooks — the last three volumes in this archive — and in mid-December 2018 resigned to return to pastoral ministry, at Saint Andrew Presbyterian Church in San Antonio.

• Doug Dalglish, new president of Presbyterian Pan American School — students from Mexico, Rwanda, Korea and China. Presbyterian Outlook, Sept. 2014
• Signed Rev. Dr. Doug Dalglish, School President. Juntos 2017, p. 5
• In mid-December Rev. Dr. Doug Dalglish announced his resignation as President of Presbyterian Pan American School (PPAS) in order to return to pastoral ministry. PPAS newsletter, Jan. 2019

On the faculty pages of 6 books (2013–2018) — every year, with a face →

Mr. Kim Warner

A Presbyterian elder and former vice president of the Texas Presbyterian Foundation, associated with the school for 26 years and a trustee (vice chair of the board in 2015) when Dalglish resigned. Named interim president on a part-time basis in January 2019, he led the school for a year and a half and chaired the search that chose his successor — 'a terrific opportunity to lead an institution fulfilling the church's mission of education'.

• Mr. Kim Warner, Presbyterian Elder and former Vice President of Texas Presbyterian Foundation, was named Interim President of the School on a part-time basis. Mr. Warner has been associated with PPAS for 26 years, with the last few years as a member of the Board of Trustees. PPAS newsletter, Jan. 2019
• The Board of Trustees made several changes to ensure a healthy period of transition before an installed President is sought; Dr. James Matthews, President of PPAS from 1997 to 2012, has been retained part-time. PPAS newsletter, Jan. 2019
• Our search committee has been hard at work developing a comprehensive position description… — Interim President Kim Warner, on the search for the school's 11th president. PPAS news, early 2020

Dr. Gordon Allen Govens

Elected the school's 'tenth president' in July 2020 and led it with his wife, the Rev. Ruth-Aimée Belonni-Rosario Govens, who became its first executive vice-president — the school's first co-leadership. A lawyer and entertainment executive before seminary (Swarthmore, Fordham Law, three Princeton Seminary degrees including a Ph.D. on the Reformation), he came from teaching history at Kennesaw State. By March 2023 the school was searching for an interim president again.

• Dr. Gordon Allen Govens elected the tenth President of the School, and the Rev. Ruth-Aimée Belonni-Rosario Govens its first Executive Vice-President, with service beginning July 27, 2020; announced by board chair David Salyer. Presbyterian Outlook, July 2020
• Dr. Gordon A. Govens, president and head of school, and the Rev. Ruth-Aimée Belonni-Rosario Govens, executive vice president, who began their service to the school in July 2020. PC(USA) News, Nov. 2021
• Pan Am has launched a search for a new interim president — applications by April 10, 2023. PPAS news, March 2023

Mr. Earl Garland

Forty years in Christian education — teacher and coach, dean of students, principal, head of school, and a varsity basketball coach with a 517–240 record and five state championships — before retiring in 2019. He came out of retirement to serve as interim president for the 2023–24 year, coached the boys' basketball team, and wrote a weekly 'Eagle Thoughts' message to students and staff from August 2023 to the end of April 2024.

• Our new Interim President Earl Garland's announcements for the 2023–2024 school year: retired in 2019 after 40 years in Christian education as teacher/coach, Dean of Students, Assistant Principal, Athletic Director, Principal and Head of School; a 517–240 record and five state championship teams. PPAS news, July 2023
• Continuing our weekly series of messages from the school president Mr. Earl Garland — every week from August 3, 2023 to April 26, 2024. PPAS news, April 2024

Dr. W. Joseph (Joey) King

Took office on August 1, 2024, after a year under an interim president, following a presidency at Lyon College and senior roles at Emory & Henry and Southwestern University. Inaugurated in Morris Chapel in early 2025 — as the 12th, 13th or 15th president, depending on who is counting.

• Appointed president; formerly president of Lyon College; Ph.D. in human-computer interaction, University of Washington; B.A., Southwestern University. PC(USA) News, July 2024
• Assumed leadership August 1, 2024; about 70 students from Mexico, China, South Korea, Rwanda, Taiwan and Colombia; board chair Bill Rutherford. PC(USA) News, Oct. 2024
• Since its beginning, Pan Am has been a visionary project, and in its modern form, it continues to be. — inaugural address PC(USA) News, Feb. 2025