Interviewee

Robert Wingo

Interviewer

Edmundo Valencia

Project

Paso del Norte Entrepreneurship Oral History Project

Biographical Synopsis of Interviewee

Robert Wingo was born in Columbus, Ohio in 1946. Robert has spent the majority of his time in El Paso, Texas and considers himself to be an El Pasoan. Robert’s father made a career being solider in the United States Army and thus Robert and his family moved around the world to various places such as Ohio, South Dakota, Georgia, Okinawa, Japan, and El Paso, Texas. Robert’s family made the move to Florida after living in El Paso. After a brief time in Florida, Robert moved back to El Paso without his immediate family and lived with extended family in El Paso while finishing high school. Robert attended Hacienda Elementary School, Burgess High School, Bel-Air High School and he is a graduate of The University of Texas at El Paso. Robert served in the United States Army and is a veteran of the Vietnam War and a recipient of the Purple Heart medal. He currently lives in El Paso, Texas with his wife Paulette. Robert Wingo is the partner and president of Sanders/Wingo Advertising Agency.

Summary of Interview

Robert Wingo was born in Columbus, Ohio but spent the majority of his life in El Paso, Texas. Robert attended elementary and high school in El Paso. After graduating from high school, Robert was drafted into the Vietnam War. After the serving his time in the Vietnam War, Robert attended The University of Texas at El Paso and in 1973 he got his BBA in Marketing. While attending UTEP, Robert worked for BDM Corporation on Fort Bliss. After graduating, Robert started working for Billy the Kid and ended up as the VP of Advertising. In 1983, the company was sold and Robert went to work with Dave Sanders at Sanders Advertising, which became Sanders/Wingo Advertising Agency. Robert is active on various boards such as, The Greater El Paso Chamber of Commerce, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Black Chamber of Commerce, College of Business Advisory Board, Wells Fargo Advisory Bank Board, the Las Palmas Del Sol Medical Board, TexasOne Board for the state, which is a State Economic Development Board for Texas, the Martin Luther King Memorial Board, which is building a National Monument in Washington DC in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. In 2009, Robert’s company was voted the African American Agency of the year by Black Enterprise. Robert’s wife Paulette Wingo is an educator and author of a book titled, Learning Doesn’t Have to be Complicated. Robert believes that the city of El Paso has a very bright future and he can see El Paso growing into its potential.

Date of Interview

5-13-2010

Length of Interview

41 minutes

Tape Number

No.1478

Transcript Number

No.1478

Length of Transcript

17 pages

Transcriber

GMR Transcription Services

Interview Number

No.1478

Terms of Use

Unrestricted

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