Pub. 58 2017-2018 Issue 4

6 E rnesto Ancira is remarkable in many ways, and not just as a self-made man, a pioneer in the automobile industry and one of the leading franchised new car dealers in the nation. He has also been a civic leader in San Antonio since the early 1970’s and has been a driving force in the development of that city to world prominence. He is an Olympic track athlete, a record holder in endurance races in San Antonio, including the Hemisfair Tower Climb. He is an accomplished jet pilot and a talented singer, including opera. Ernesto and his equally talented wife, Robin, have done so much for others including TADA and our great industry that he was named a TADA Legend in 2011, only the 11th dealer to wear that mantle out of the thousands of outstanding dealers who have served the Lone Star State over the past 102 years. Robin and Ernesto began bringing their daughters Ashley and April to TADA meetings when Ernesto served as Chairman of the Board of the state association. Little did the proud parents know at the time that April Ancira would eventually learn the business and become as essential to the City of San Antonio as her successful father. Earning her high school diploma, her undergraduate college degree and her MBA all in San Antonio and establishing herself in the Ancira dealer organization means that April Ancira has devoted her entire life to the City and its social services. Her relationship with San Antonio is second only to that of her family, her car dealer husband Jason Thompson, and their two young children Gunnar and Hope. April’s enormous body of good work culminated in her being named in 2018 to the San Antonio Women’s Hall of Fame. It is exhausting to list the community and charitable endeavors April Ancira San Antonio Women’s Hall of Fame