William (Bill) McGarvey Announces Intention to Run for College of the Mainland Board of Trustees Position 6

Texas City, Texas - William (Bill) McGarvey, Ph.D. of Texas City, Texas has announced his intention to run for the College of the Mainland (COM) Board of Trustees - Position 6.  One of two at-large positions, Position 6 is currently held by Rachel Delgado, who is not seeking re-election.
BACKGROUND AND QUALIFICATIONS

Bill McGarvey was born in Galveston in 1953 and moved with his family to La Marque in 1967.  After graduating from La Marque High School in 1971, McGarvey attended College of the Mainland, graduating with an Associate of Arts in 1975.  He then transferred to the University of Texas at Austin where, as a Phi Beta Kappa, he earned a Bachelor of Arts with High Honors in Economics in December 1977.

After college, McGarvey began his career at American National Insurance Company in Galveston as a computer programmer.  In 1983, McGarvey went to work for International Business Machines (IBM). In his over twenty-year career at IBM, McGarvey worked as a computer programmer to develop code modifications to NASA’s mission control systems at Johnson Space Center to support the military’s use of the space shuttle and as a program manager where he managed the team that won IBM a $1.2 billion Department of Defense contract.  In 1997, McGarvey was inducted into IBM's Golden Circle, an award reserved for the company's highest performing employees.

In 2003, McGarvey left IBM to pursue other interests.  He started his own business, William McGarvey Enterprises, which owns and manages residential rental properties for families who wish to make the Texas City-La Marque area their home.  McGarvey also furthered his education. In May 2009, he earned a Master of Arts in Mathematics from the University of Houston and, in May 2014, earned a Ph.D. in Computer Information Systems from Nova Southeastern University.  

In addition, McGarvey wished to give back to his community.  His community activities have included serving as president of the Noon Optimist Club of Texas City, as a board member of the La Marque ISD Education Foundation and as president of the Rotary Club of the Mainland.  He currently is a board member of both the Texas City ISD Foundation for the Future and the College of the Mainland Foundation and recently served as chair of COMPAC, an organization of volunteer citizens who advocated in favor of passing the COM 2018 bond referendum.

McGarvey has lived in the Texas City-La Marque community for more than fifty years and currently lives in Texas City with his wife, Genevieve.  He has three children and five grandchildren.

CAMPAIGN MISSION AND PURPOSE

As McGarvey says, "College of the Mainland will always have a special place in my heart.  When I graduated from high school, I had neither the grades, nor the money, nor the maturity to make it at a four-year university, but thanks to College of the Mainland, I had the opportunity to pursue a higher education and this changed the direction of my life.  

"The current Board of Trustees has shown great judgment, strong leadership and true vision.  I commend their choice of hiring Dr. Warren Nichols as president of the college.  He has been doing a fantastic job. The board’s calling for a $162.5 million bond referendum to fund new construction and renovations, which recently passed by a large margin, has College of the Mainland well positioned for a bright and exciting future. 

"With the possibility of several members of the Board of Trustees leaving, it is important that new board members work to continue this leadership and vision.  I believe I can bring this continuity to the board and it is for this reason that I have decided to run.

"I often refer to College of the Mainland as one of the crown jewels of our community and I promise that, if elected, I will do my best to ensure our crown jewel shines ever brighter."

ENDORSED BY:


Arlene Boix                     Genevieve McGarvey             Joe Compian    
José Boix                        Mary Combs Demby              David Floyd
Thelma Bowie               Kyle Dickson                            Rosalie Kettler
Sam Collins III             Mary Dickson                           Terry Kettler
Joe Compian                Peggy Dietel                              Don Gartman
Greta Cross                  Randy Dietel                             Sandy Gartman
Jack Cross                    Charles T. Doyle                       Carlos Garza
Jason Delgado             Ruth Duke                                 Bennie Matthews
Rachel Delgado           Nakisha Paul                            Freddie Poor          

Paula Roberts              Pam Schwertner                       Melissa Skipworth               

Phil Roberts                  Sabrina Schwertner                Sean Skipworth

Ted Robinson, Jr.          Bob Senter                                  Randy Strickland

Alan Waters                  Dr. Yolanda Waters