The Shoreline Department announced its farewell to Chairwoman Virginia Guillot for her time and dedication to the Shoreline Task Force (SLTF).
Guillot fulfilled her service to South Padre Island just as her family has done for generations, dating back to the early 1900s upon arrival from Louisiana. Her husband, Ronald Guillot, is also deeply woven into the community through the family fishing businesses beginning in the early 1900s. Through the 1950s, Guillot's father, Leo Sanders, sought out work at the Delhi Taylor Oil Refinery and eventually served as the Mayor of Point Isabel for about ten years. Raised in Point Isabel, her mother, whose family was also in the shrimping industry, remembers crossing over to the island before there was any bridge.
Born in San Benito and raised in Point Isabel, Guillot saw the island develop and recalled the construction of the Queen Isabella Causeway, the Bahia Mar, the South Padre Marina, the Landfall Towers, and several of the Holiday Inns. "There was a lot of development going on in the early 70s," said Guillot. This was the beginning of what she says was the island's first real tourism growth.
Fast forward to today, Ronald and Virginia Guillot will be celebrating the 40th anniversary of their business, Parrot Eyes. Parrot Eyes is a restaurant, bar, watersports, and marina, and is home to many different activities.
After serving as a teacher for PI-ISD for ten years, she saw an opening for the SLTF as an opportunity to do her civic duty. Soon she realized how important the activity of the SLTF board is to the city. After serving seven years, Guillot stated that the Shoreline department's work is vital. "It's very important work. I have to brag on (Shoreline Director) Kristina Boburka and (Coastal Coordinator) Erica Hughston, and even before them, Ruben Treviño and Brandon Hill. They all do/did a lot of work for the island, making sure that we follow all of the code and the General Land Office (GLO)."
