A Condensed History of the Texas A&I Citrus Center
The Texas A&I Citrus Center opened in 1947 in Weslaco under the leadership of Dr. P.W. Rohrbaugh. In 1964, Dr. Richard Hensz became the second director, contributing significantly to the Center’s national reputation. The Center launched an ambitious research and education program, accommodating students, WWII veterans, and teachers, with faculty from Kingsville supporting academic teaching and agricultural training.
The original 80-acre campus was later expanded with 12 acres from Illinois Wesleyan University, 8.5 acres near Bayview donated by Lon C. Hill Jr., and eventually a 150-acre South Research Farm added through the efforts of local leaders such as John C. Jones Sr., Shelley B. Collier Sr., and V.F. “Doc” Neuhaus. Additional acreage was added in the 1970s and 1980s for field research, including a 48-acre tract near Mission supported by the Edinburg Improvement Association and the Meadows Foundation.
Severe freezes in 1949, 1951, 1962, 1983, and 1989 devastated the citrus industry in the Rio Grande Valley, reducing acreage from 120,000 to as low as 11,000 acres. Dr. Hensz played a vital role in developing Star Ruby and Rio Red grapefruit, helping the industry recover. By 1994, the Valley had about 29,000 acres of citrus, mostly grapefruit.
The TEXSUN juice plant, once a symbol of Weslaco’s citrus processing strength, changed hands multiple times—from Royal Crown Cola to Sundor, and later to Procter & Gamble—before finally being sold to a Florida company in 1992. The TEXSUN brand name lives on, but without Texas-grown juice.
Two major citrus packing sheds in Weslaco—Lake Delta Citrus Association and Progressive Groves—shut down after the 1983 freeze. Meanwhile, the Center’s mission continued to grow. Its faculty, including Drs. J. Victor French (entomology), John Fucik (horticulture), Mani Skaria (plant pathology), Dariusz Swietlik (physiology), and others, earned global recognition for innovations in citrus research.
With a legacy of leadership in pest and disease control, irrigation, nutrition, and cultivar development, the Center also pioneered the citrus tree insurance program in partnership with Congressman Kika de la Garza and Texas Citrus Mutual.
Today, the Center stands as part of the Texas A&M University System under the name Texas A&M University-Kingsville Citrus Center at Weslaco, continuing its vital role in sustaining and advancing the citrus industry in Texas and beyond.
Acknowledgment
This historical account was originally authored by Dr. Richard Hensz, whose leadership and contributions shaped the legacy of the Texas A&I Citrus Center in Weslaco. The content has been condensed and respectfully curated by Dr. Mani Skaria to preserve and share this important chapter of Texas citrus history.
Special thanks to Rod Santana for generously providing original photographs and archival image copies that enriched this documentation.
Current Leadership and Faculty – Texas A&M University–Kingsville Citrus Center (Weslaco)
- Administration
- Dr. Mamoudou Sétamou, Executive Director, Professor of Entomology and Agricultural Statistics
- Teresa Gonzales, Executive Assistant
- Michael Perez, Administrative Associate III
- Dr. Mamoudou Sétamou, Executive Director, Professor of Entomology and Agricultural Statistics
- Faculty & Research Team
- Dr. David Laughlin, Research Assistant Professor, Outreach
- Dr. Andrew Chow, Research Assistant Professor
- Dr. Veronica Ancona, Associate Professor, Plant Pathology
- Dr. Joel Cabrera, Assistant Professor, Plant Physiology
- Dr. Madhurababu Kunta, Research Associate Professor, Molecular Diagnostics & Pathology
- Dr. David Laughlin, Research Assistant Professor, Outreach
Additional team members include post‑doctoral researchers, research technicians, and support staff contributing to pest management, cultivar development, diagnostics, and extension outreach.
Document prepared on: July 27, 2025
