Barry Horn had a knack for bringing events to life. His philanthropic philosophy, selfless nature and elegant style made him a prominent figure in the Brownsville community and, some would say, a force to be reckoned with. His work in establishing endowments will live on to benefit students for years to come.

Horn will be missed by many throughout UTB/TSC and the Brownsville community.

"He touched a lot of lives," said Letty Fernandez, director of News and Information. Fernandez worked closely with Horn during his employment in the university’s Division of Institutional Advancement.

She reflected on her time spent working with Horn, saying he provided a lot of inspiration to those around him.

"He would tell me, ‘Oh, I learned so much from you.’ But in reality, you learned from him," Fernandez said.

Horn made everyone feel included, she said.

"[The division] would run an event and there was always a team of people working with him and it could be anybody from Physical Plant to Media Services, but he always made people feel like they were part of the team, that everybody had a role in making the event a success," Fernandez said.

Horn died Oct. 24 in his home, 1400 Flor de Mayo in Brownsville. He was 59.

Before joining the Brownsville Museum of Fine Art as executive director, Horn held several posts at UTB/TSC, beginning in 2000, when he served as manager of the Jacob Brown Civic Center. He then became director of Development and in 2004 was promoted to associate vice president for Development. He left the university in 2008, according to a news release from the UTB/TSC Office of News and Information.

Horn was also involved in a number of civic projects, including helping the city earn an All-America City Award in 2001, the restoration of the Immaculate Conception Cathedral, and establishing Symphony in the Park that benefits the Brownsville Literacy Center, the news release said.

UTB/TSC President Juliet V. Garía said she felt lucky to have Horn work at the university.

"With Barry, you weren’t just a friend or a colleague or an acquaintance, you were always family," she said in an email.

William Strong, a professor in the Communication Department, said Horn was "the invisible hand" of the university and helped plant the seeds for future student beneficiaries.

"He’s done things for people that they would probably never realize," Strong said. "A philanthropist’s result of their work is usually never realized until 100 years later after they’re gone."

Sonia Cunningham, an associate professor in the Associate Degree Nursing program, said Horn helped her establish the Keith A. Ferguson Scholarship Fund Endowment in honor of her son, which is now worth more than $150,000. In return, Cunningham established the Barry T. Horn Scholarship Endowment for the Arts at UTB/TSC to honor Horn.

Cunningham said the two words that come to mind when she thinks about Horn is "nice" and "elegant."

"Even if something was wrong and he had to tell you to fix it, the way he told you was so pleasant that you were happy to do it," she said.

Cunningham said Horn had "flair."

"His flair was very elegant, he was always impeccably attired … so I imagine that anything we do must be on a grand scale but with elegance," she said.

Strong holds the same views as Cunningham, adding that it would be difficult to do Horn justice because he was so "aesthetically talented" and was really good at creating an ambience for the university.

"He would do it bigger and better and get it done," he said.

Apart from his work as associate vice president for Institutional Advancement, Horn had a love for the arts.

Diane Brumley, an adjunct professor in the Music Department and director of choral activities, said Horn was "truly a friend of the arts."

"He realized more than most people that the arts and music are indeed a bridge to enlightenment and through his efforts our department … and the Master Chorale will forever be in his debt," Brumley said.

Horn also attended classes during his time at UTB/TSC and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in communication in December 2007.

Alumna Rosemary Vasquez, who graduated with Horn, said many of her classmates looked up to Horn.

"He was just one of those people that when Barry spoke, everyone would listen, and he had so much knowledge and it was good stuff," Vasquez said.

Former SGA President Abraham Ponce, who was the first recipient of the Keith A. Ferguson Scholarship, said Horn was very helpful and always had a smile on his face. Ponce recalls the time he made the trip with other students to New York to take part in the Sgt. Keith A. Ferguson Memorial Run/Walk.

"We took that trip to New York with the other members from UTB and he was a great help," Ponce said. "I couldn’t check into my hotel because I didn’t have a credit card and he showed up and put his credit card and he was the one who got me my hotel room."

And although Horn no longer was part of the university, Cunningham said he graciously accepted her invitation to attend the run/walk last summer.

"I just think he’ll be remembered for lots of things," Fernandez said. "I think you see a lot of his work here, even down to the palm trees on campus."

Horn was born in Brownsville on Dec. 12, 1949, to Lloyd and Louise Horn. He was an on-air personality and producer of the morning news program at KTRK-TV Channel 13, the ABC television affiliate in Houston, from 1971 to 1993. He moved back to the Rio Grande Valley and served as executive director of the South Texas Symphony Association, according to a News and Information release.

Horn was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Gloria H. Rattigan. He is survived by his brothers, Richard, James and Joseph; sisters, Judy and Ann; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Services were held Saturday at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Brownsville.