Published on Sunday, Oct. 22, 2006
http://www.legacy.com/HoustonChronicle/DeathNotices.asp?Page=LifeStory&PersonId=19657925
| George Guy Bevil Jr. | | |
 GEORGE GUY BEVIL, JR., visionary, founder, and first Executive Director of Amigos de las Américas died October 10, 2006, in Little Rock, Arkansas at the age of 71. In the 1960s as youth minister at River Oaks Baptist Church in Houston, Bevil conceived the idea of an interdenominational service project in which teenagers volunteer their summer to address health care needs of rural Honduras. In 1965 the first group of volunteers vaccinated 571,000 people against polio, smallpox and other diseases. Amigos de las Américas was subsequently formed as a nonprofit organization, quickly expanding throughout the U.S. and Latin America. In 1965, Bevil received the "Order of the Lempira" Medal of Honor from the Honduras government, Honduras' highest civilian honor and the first time it was awarded to a North American. Bevil's legacy is his strong belief in the creativity, integrity and leadership of youth. His vision of youth leadership through service continues to positively touch people throughout the Americas. Bevil will be interred in Brownsville, TX and a memorial service is being planned for later this year. Bevil is survived by a sister, June Blankenship of Little Rock, AR, and a brother, Craig Bevil of Dallas, TX. For those wishing to make a memorial donation to support youth leadership through international service, please mail your donation to the Foundation for Amigos de las Américas, Guy Bevil Leadership Fund, 5618 Star Lane, Houston, TX 77057; or make a donation online through www.amigoslink.org.
Published in the Houston Chronicle on 10/22/2006. |