SWTX, Radiology Associates of Uvalde Launch Ralph Gonzalez Scholarship Partnership
Ralph “Freddie” Gonzalez, AAS, RTR, RTCT, CNMT, RSO, was born Dec. 7, 1956, in Hondo, Texas, and graduated from Hondo High School in 1975 before enlisting in the United States Army in January 1976. During basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, a drill sergeant gave him the name “Ralph,” which he carried throughout his professional career. He completed Combat Medic training at Fort Sam Houston and was assigned to the 127th Medical Detachment (MASH) in Erlangen, Germany, where cross-training in radiography set the course for his future in medical imaging. His wife, Belinda, joined him in Germany in 1977 as a military dependent, and he returned to the United States in 1978 before receiving an honorable discharge in 1982.
Gonzalez enrolled in the St. Philips College radiology program in 1979, earning an associate of applied science degree with Phi Theta Kappa honors in 1981 and certification by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists shortly thereafter. He began his civilian radiology career at Medina Community Hospital and joined Uvalde Memorial Hospital in 1982, where he would serve for 42 years. When he started, imaging consisted only of diagnostic X-ray with a three-person staff; under his leadership, the department expanded to include mammography, ultrasound, echocardiography, nuclear medicine, CT, MRI and PET imaging and grew to 35 professionals, 19 of whom are graduates of the SWTX radiologic technology program.
Throughout his career, Gonzalez pursued extensive advanced training in nuclear medicine, radiation safety, mammography, ultrasound, vascular imaging, echocardiography, CT, MRI, PET, PACS and radiation safety management, earning ARRT CT certification, Nuclear Medicine Technology Certification Board credentials and a Clinical Instructor Certificate from St. Philips College. In 1990, after completing radiation safety training at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, he was appointed radiation safety officer at Uvalde Memorial Hospital, a role he continues to hold.
Gonzalez played a central role in building radiologic education pathways for the region. He helped pilot an early AAS radiography program through St. Philips College and Uvalde Memorial Hospital, and later was instrumental in the approval of the AAS radiologic technology program through Southwest Texas Junior College (now Southwest Texas College) in partnership with Uvalde Memorial Hospital in 2007. He served for many years as chair of the program’s clinical advisory board as it graduated 126 radiographers across eight cohorts, with a ninth in progress.
He retired from his role as radiology director at Uvalde Memorial Hospital in December 2024, but continues to serve as radiation safety officer and an active voting member of the clinical advisory board. His legacy is reflected in the patients cared for, the imaging professionals trained and the multi-modality imaging services that now serve Uvalde and the surrounding communities.
The Ralph Gonzalez Scholarship will provide $2,000 awards to two current students enrolled in the SWTX Radiologic Technology Program in recognition of their academic performance and professional promise.