SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Nov. 21, 2002 – A valued leader at Oak Farms Dairy recently received well deserved recognition as a leader in the Hispanic community. Hector Garza, general sales manager in San Antonio was recently interviewed for a segment on Univision’s “Mejor de los Nuestros.” The show, translated as “The Best of Our Own,” featured Garza for his numerous years of dedication to Oak Farms and his involvement in the community.

After 43 years of dedication and loyalty to Oak Farms Dairy, Garza has pioneered a new breed of leadership by rising up the ranks from his beginnings as a milkman in 1959 to his current position as general sales manager.

Garza’s diligent climb up the ladder of success mirrors Oak Farms’ commitment to promoting from within and demonstrates that the corporation truly values its employees, who have helped make Oak Farms’ milk and dairy products the preferred choice of consumers in Texas.

“Hector Garza’s outstanding leadership with Oak Farms is worthy of recognition,” says Mike Bell, Oak Farms Dairy vice president. “His hard work shows what can happen when a hometown boy from San Antonio desires to succeed in life and is willing to persevere in order to achieve his career goals. We are truly blessed to have Hector as part of the Oak Farms family.”

To bolster its visible presence in the Hispanic community, Oak Farms has already implemented a pro-active, marketing outreach campaign titled, “Como de la Familia.” Through the campaign, Oak Farms will appeal to Hispanics through a variety of Spanish-language messages via outdoor billboards, radio and community grass-roots events. All efforts are designed to strengthen their relationship with Hispanic consumers in four key Texas markets, including San Antonio, Austin, Houston and Dallas/Fort Worth.

In addition, Oak Farms has proven to be a good corporate citizen by giving back to the communities it serves, including a $1 million commitment for the creation of the Latino Cultural Center in Dallas, Texas.

Garza’s Hispanic background also helps build the bridge between Hispanic consumers and Oak Farms through his leadership role within the company. Garza is proud of the Oak Farms Hispanic outreach campaign and equally proud of the company’s quality dairy products. “We’re a local dairy, so our customers get their dairy products fresher,” he says. “We get them out in the market faster than anyone else.”

He remembers the days when he first started in 1959, where for the next 15 years he delivered milk for then-Knowlton’s Inc. He worked 12 hours a day, six days a week.

Although the 67-year-old is eligible to retire, he’s enjoying his job too much to think about retiring. “I love my job,” he says. “I like the people I’ve met and the customers I’ve known for many years. I’ll stay here as long as they’ll have me. I’m having a good time.”

And Oak Farms couldn’t be more pleased. They too consider him the best of their own.

Headquartered in Dallas, Oak Farms Dairy is a subsidiary of Dean Foods, one of the nation’s leading food and beverage companies. Dean Foods is the nation’s leading processor and distributor of fresh milk and other dairy products, and a leader in the soyfoods and specialty foods industries. Oak Farms has milk plants in San Antonio, Dallas, Houston and Waco, Texas. For more information on Oak Farms products and recipes log on to www.oakfarmsdairy.com.

Contact: Susan Meadows
214.818.3416