Florentino "Tino" DuranLa Prensa, San AntonioHall of Fame Class of 2014Tino Duran is owner and publisher of La Prensa de San Antonio, and president of Duran Duran Industries. Described as a tough Alazan-Apache Courts kid, Florentino Duran was expelled from six San Antonio elementary schools because he had a “discipline problem” — but the real problem was that he only spoke Spanish. Determined to succeed, the young Duran mastered the English language, excelled in school and served as editor of the student newspaper at Sidney Lanier High School. After high school, Duran served four years in the U.S. Air Force and following military service attended San Antonio College, where he worked for The Ranger. He went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in political science and a master’s degree in public administration from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio. But newspapers were in his blood, and in the mid-1980s, he first became general manager of El Sol de Tejas, in Dallas, and then president and CEO of El Informador Hispaño in Fort Worth. In 1989, Duran re-established a newspaper named La Prensa in San Antonio, and ever since he has concentrated on building a strong community through a strong newspaper in his own home town. In 2014, Duran was honored by his peers in the Texas newspaper industry by his induction into the Texas Newspaper Hall of Fame. Duran served as president of the National Association of Hispanic Publications which by 1992 included 783 publications with a targeted audience of English, Spanish and bilingual readers. As Latino publications continue to grow, Duran devotes his energies to serving the Hispanic community in the San Antonio area with print and online content. Today, as president of Duran Duran Industries and publisher of La Prensa de San Antonio, his efforts for the community through the newspaper and La Prensa Foundation have been recognized through numerous business and community involvement awards. Duran continually provides opportunities for young newspaper men and women to learn and grow, and his high standards serve as a beacon to all. Under Duran’s direction, La Prensa brings light to issues missed by the mainstream media, while offering a broad range of coverage from arts and entertainment to education and poli- tics. Duran and his wife and co-publisher Amelia J. Duran established La Prensa Foundation in 1995 to provide students with financial assistance to pursue their dreams of attaining a higher education. Mr. Duran credits Mrs. Duran with creating the foundation. She started with seed money of $1,000 and the support and encouragement of her dear friend, Lu Betancourt. By 2010, the foundation had raised and donated more than $2 million for students at schools like Alamo Community College, Our Lady of the Lake University, and the University of the Incarnate Word, thanks to corporate and individual contributions. Tino Duran has been awarded numerous awards for his community involvement and business success. They include the 2006 Community Service Award presented by the San Antonio North Chamber of Commerce, the 2005 Henry B. Gonzalez Public Service and Integrity award presented by the Public Administration Department of San Antonio College, the 2002 Media Award presented by the San Antonio Police Officers Association, and the 2002 Henry Guerra Journalism Award presented by the San Antonio Hispanic Journalists. |
