Dionicio Vidal Flores

FLORES, DIONICIO VIDAL ?SONNY? (1936- ) ~ Dionicio Vidal ?Sonny? Flores was born on May 5, 1936, in Falfurrias, Texas. Growing up in Falfurrias, Sonny attended public schools and after high school, he enrolled in Texas A&M University from 1954-1959. At the university, Sonny was in the Member Corps of Cadets. In 1959, he graduated with a Bachelors in Engineering and at the same time, received his commission.

After college, Sonny enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and served as Captain from 1959-1962. Afterwards, he settled in Houston where he became an engineer serving under the tutledge of such engineer greats as Howard Tellepsen, Mason Lockwood, and Frank Newman. Not only was Sonny receiving a doctrine in engineering, he was also being taught to serve the community.

Sonny has been serving the local community of Houston, Texas since 1966, when he became the founding member and board member of International Seamen?s Center. From there Sonny served on the Houston Jr. Chamber of Commerce as president and board member from 1966-1972, and also served in 1969 on the Houston Chamber of Commerce Board. Sonny was also involved in the Child Care Council of Houston, the Association for Community Television (ACT), Volunteers of America, the USO - Houston Branch, the United Way of Texas Gulf Coast, the Chairman and Executive Committee for the Houston Festival, Board Member for the Salvation Army, the Cultural Arts Council of Houston, the Metro March of Dimes, the Society for the Performing Arts, the M.D. Anderson Cancer Foundation, the Green Ribbon Committee for joint city and county for master planning area parks system, the Houston Private Sector Initiatives, the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the Hispanic Forum, the C-Club, the East End Chamber of Commerce, the Buffalo Bayou Coalition, the Mid-Town Redevelopment Authority, the Harris County Hospital District, the East End Management District, the Harris County Hospital District, the Palanca PAC, the Clean Houston Commission and the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce PAC, Chairman from 2004 to the present.

In addition to serving his local community, Sonny has served the Texas community as a whole by serving as commissioner on the State of Texas General Services Commission, a board member of the United Way of Texas, and by being on the Speaker?s Committee on the Criminal Justice Council. Sonny has also served the national community as Vice Chairman of the Advisory committee to the Secretary of Commerce for the Decennial Census.

In 1976, Sonny received the Volunteer of the Year Savvy Award. In 1982, he received the Volunteer of the Year Award from United Way of Texas Gulf Coast. In 1998, he received a Special Recognition Award from the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and in 2001, Sonny Flores received the Founder?s Award from the Houston International Seafarer?s Center.

In 1980, Sonny Flores founded his own business in Houston, PEC Corporation which is involved in engineering services and construction management. Today, Sonny Flores continues his community service while still presiding over PEC Corporation.