Dr. Gerard Roland Vela passed away peacefully at his home Tuesday, January 26, 2021.  He was born to Marcial and Maria Guadalupe (Muzquiz) Vela on September 18, 1927 in Eagle Pass, Texas.  Roland married Emma Lamar Codina in 1953.

Dr. Vela was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II.  After the war, he attended the University of Texas and earned his Bachelor's and Master's degrees.  Eight years later, he returned to the University of Texas  and earned his PhD in Microbiology and Biochemistry.  In 1965, he moved to Denton, where he joined the faculty of North Texas State University.  During his 35 year tenure at North Texas, Dr. Vela taught Microbiology classes, directed the research of 20 Doctoral students, 44 Masters students, published 75 research papers, and served five years as Associate Dean of Science and Technology.  He maintained a national and international reputation in Microbiology having chaired many high profile committees, taught at universities throughout the world, and consulted to promote ecological remediation in commercial environments.  He served as the first Hispanic City Council member in Denton and was a founding member of the Firehouse Theater Group.  He was a member of the Airport Advisory Board, the Board of Directors of the Texas Municipal Power Agency, the Denton Forum, the Board of Directors of Ann's Haven Hospice of Denton, and the Board of Directors of Our Daily Bread.  He was involved in the Denton County Cooperative Agency and the Flow Health Care Foundation.  Dr. Vela was named one of the Outstanding 100 Texas Latinos of the Twentieth Century by Texas Latino Magazine in the year 2000.  He published Microbiology textbooks as well as history books on Bernardo de Galvez (a copy of which he presented to Prince Phillip, later crowned King of Spain) and Antonio Lopez de Santa Ana.  Because of his devotion to civic duty and work in the promotion of education in the Hispanic community, the city of Denton, working with the Denton LULAC Council, named the G. Roland Vela Athletic Center after him.  His accomplishments, his students, and his intellect are enduring and will continue to exemplify the very best in science and in humanity.

Dr. Vela is preceded in death by his parents.  He is survived by his wife Emma, son Jerry (Anne), daughter Anna Maria Trier (Mark), daughter Yolanda Vorel (Emerson), son Jaime, seven grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren.  He is also survived by his brother, Mario Cesar (Katherine).  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to:

Dr. G. Roland Vela Memorial Scholarship Fund

LULAC Council 4366

P.O. Box 981

Denton, TX  76201

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the visitation and funeral service will be private.  The Funeral Mass will be live-streamed at 11:00am on Monday, February 1 on https://fb.me/e/K8QnSa47.