Honoring Celso Cuellar
01-28-1941 - 11-13-2024
Celso and his sisters, fellow Cougar alumna Lourdes M. Cuéllar, R.Ph. (’73), M.S. (’79), FASHP, and Nicanora C Cuellar, L-CSW-S, grew up in a drugstore (Denver Heights drugstore) owned by their parents, Celso Sr. and Matiana, in their native San Antonio. Celso fondly recalled learning the basics of customer service – which would serve him well in practicing patient care later in life - making deliveries on his bicycle, flipping hamburgers, and making floats at the “soda fountain.” After graduating UH College of Pharmacy in 1965, Celso started his career at one of the Mading Drugs stores in Clear Lake. His career included owning an independent pharmacy for 16 years, as well as supervising pharmacist and management positions for both Kmart and Target pharmacies. Toward the end of his career, Celso worked at Hill’s Drug Store No. 1 in San Antonio owned by UHCOP classmate Arthur Jamie Siller.
Celso was a valued member of the UHCOP Dean’s Advisory Council, a “Red Coat” honoree of the Mading Society of benefactors, and the 2016 recipient of the Pharmacist Alumnus of the Year. Two endowments at UHCOP have been established by the Cuellar family, the Lourdes M. and Nicanora C. Cuellar Presidential Endowed Fellowship and the Celso & Matiana Cuellar Endowed Scholarship. In addition, we’re honored to have the Celso Cuellar and Lourdes M. Cuellar Dean’s Conference Room among our dedicated spaces in the Health 2 Building in recognition of their gifts toward completion of the college’s state-of-the-art home.
Celso will be remembered for his kindness, faith, and commitment to his patients. In his words, “What always brought me great satisfaction was the one-on-one interaction with the patients and being humbled by the great trust they have in you, especially when you’re working in communities who may not have the financial resources that others have.”
This new endowed scholarship will honor the life and legacy of Celso Cuellar, Jr.
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