For Richard Garcia ’88, ’91, music has always been a family affair — and at the heart of it were his parents, David and Dina Garcia. As a member of The Pride of New Mexico Marching Band, Richard spent countless hours rehearsing, performing, traveling and teaching alongside his brother, Paul ’94. Through every season, “Mom and Dad Garcia” were there.
“They supported us and our bandmates in The Pride of New Mexico with everything they had,” Richard recalls. Paul went on to serve as a drum major for three years, and Richard was a drum major in high school, setting the stage for their lifelong connection to the band.
Dina and David quickly became beloved pillars of The Pride of New Mexico community, embracing generations of students as if they were their own children. After earning his degree from Durham Drafting College, David built a long career at NMSU’s Physical Science Laboratory. He and Dina married in 1968 and spent 54 years creating a home filled with music, encouragement and unwavering love. When his parents passed, Richard discovered their old albums and realized just how deeply that music shaped him.
This fall, the brothers honored that legacy in a meaningful way. On Giving Tuesday, they established the David and Dina Garcia Distinguished Head Drum Major Endowed Scholarship in the NMSU Department of Music. The scholarship supports a full-time undergraduate or graduate music major serving as head drum major of The Pride of New Mexico. With guidance from Steven Smyth, Ph.D., associate professor of music, Richard and Paul chose the drum major role as the clearest reflection of their parents’ unwavering devotion to the band.
Richard remembers meeting younger Pride members years later, being introduced not by name but as “Mom and Dad Garcia’s eldest son,” followed by, “Meet your older brother.” Their parents’ care stretched far beyond performances; they raised funds, recorded halftime shows and arranged meals for the entire band. Their support carried well into the 2000s.
Paul, a skilled percussionist, earned his bachelor’s degree in music from NMSU in 1994 before completing a Master of Music in Conducting at the University of Tennessee and a Doctor of Musical Arts in Conducting from the University of Southern Mississippi. Since 2003, Dr. Garcia has served at North Carolina State University and, since 2006, as Director of Bands. His ensembles have performed for two U.S. presidents, and he remains active nationally as a clinician and adjudicator (he will guest conduct one of three bands at NMSU’s Southwest Honor Band performance on Sunday, February 22, 2026).
The idea for the scholarship first emerged after David’s passing in 2022 and took full shape following Dina’s death in August 2025. Launching it on Giving Tuesday, a day rooted in generosity, felt like the perfect tribute.
“Mom and Dad believed deeply in The Pride of New Mexico and in the power of music to shape young lives,” Richard says. “This scholarship ensures their spirit continues to lift students for years to come.”
When Richard presented the check to the NMSU Foundation, he felt he was carrying not only his family’s story, but the stories of every student his parents encouraged. “Leaving a legacy through an endowed scholarship is a beautiful way to honor your family,” he says. “It preserves their memory and builds a future for Aggies for generations.”
Today, the scholarship stands as a lasting reminder of two people who gave endlessly, celebrated loudly and believed wholeheartedly in Aggie students — opening doors for future drum majors and strengthening the tradition that defines The Pride of New Mexico. To contribute to the David and Dina Garcia Memorial Fund, visit https://alwaysanaggie.org/donate/give-to-the-david-and-dina-garcia-memorial-fund/.