July 28, 2026
SAN MARCOS, TX - Hector Saldaña, who currently serves as Texas Music Curator at The Wittliff Collections at Texas State University, has been named the 2026 recipient of the prestigious Henry Guerra Lifetime Achievement Award for Excellence in Journalism from the San Antonio chapter of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists. It honors his 32-year career as an award-winning writer.
“Hector Saldaña has provided vivid and insightful narratives of the most important Texas musical artists of our time, particularly the best of Tejano music,” said Marise McDermott, Executive Director of the Wittliff Collections. “Every essay and exhibition reveals the nuances of musicians that can only be revealed by a master narrator, as Saldaña has proven to be. We congratulate Hector Saldaña on this well-deserved and distinguished award.”
The award is named after broadcast pioneer, community leader and historian, Henry Guerra, known as “The Voice of San Antonio.”
Past recipients include John Quiñones of ABC News and Ramon Hernandez, whose Tejano music archives are preserved at The Wittliff Collections. Advisory Council member Carmen Tafolla recently received the coveted Corazon de Oro Award from SAAHJ.
The award will be presented Saturday, August 15th in San Antonio at a gala reception and dinner.
The San Antonio Association of Hispanic Journalists is an organization that champions diversity in media through scholarships, mentorships, and programs for high school and college students.
About The Wittliff Collections
The Wittliff Collections are dedicated to collecting, preserving, and sharing the cultural legacy of the Southwest’s literary, photographic and musical arts, and to fostering the region’s “Spirit of Place” in the wider world. The Wittliff hosts readings, artist talks, lectures, and other events; presents major exhibitions year-round from its holdings; and makes its collections available to statewide, national, and international researchers.
Visitors, tours, and classes are welcome. Admission is free.
Online: http://www.thewittliffcollections.txstate.edu/
On Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/thewittliffcollections
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