Former Royal quarterback spreads success

ROYAL CITY - As quarterback of two state championship football teams in the mid-2000s, Royal City's Ray Valle III experienced success and fame.

Fame is fleeting, but Valle is finding that success is not. He has found it in another way, and it could be the result of the leadership skills he learned at the helm of the Knights football team.

Valle is responsible for establishing a fraternity at the University of North Texas that has community service as its primary mission. His effort drew attention at the university and that of Fr. Jesus Ramirez, pastor of St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church in Royal City.

"He demonstrates that young people from Royal City can go out and do good. He should be held up as a role model," Ramirez said.

In 2010, Valle was nominated for president of the year for 2009-10 among fraternity presidents by Giovanni Angon, 2010-2011 president of the Omega Delta Phi fraternity.

"Throughout his presidency, Mr. Ray Valle has made numerous lasting impacts in our chapter and has set a high standard for brothers as well as future presidents by achieving many goals," Angon wrote in his letter of nomination.

"Mr. Valle has also made Omega Delta Phi's presence known on the University of North Texas campus by taking it upon himself to promote the fraternity in a positive light by living out our core values of unity, honesty, integrity and leadership," Angon added.

Valle happened upon Omega Delta Phi in 2008 through his cousin Chris Valle, who was a member of the Washington State University chapter. The cousin invited Valle to Pullman to hang out with him and the frat brothers.

Valle liked what he saw and took Omega Delta Phi back to North Texas. He and six other UNT students founded the chapter in 2008 with a lofty goal.

"Our main purpose is service and helping the community," he said.

Valle noted each brother is required to do 30 hours of community service per semester. As a group, they sponsor Camp Summit, a weekend getaway for handicapped people of all ages at a camping area about five miles from Denton.

"During Mr. Valle's presidency, Omega Delta Phi averaged between 45-50 hours of community service per member," Angon wrote. "His vision and commitment to our chapter led us to win the Multicultural Greek Council Service Award, the University of North Texas Excellence in Service Award and the Omega Delta Phi North Texas Region service award."

Angon cited Valle personally for his work at Camp Summit and for serving as a mentor for low-income elementary school children in the Denton area.

Valle was the chapter's first full-year president. According to Angon, his work ensured that the chapter will succeed and flourish after he graduates.

"Mr. Valle taught all of us to never give up and also to not be afraid of taking an active role in leadership. His leadership skills have allowed all of us to grow," Angon said.

Under Valle's leadership, the young chapter took on the challenge of hosting the fraternity's National Undergraduate Conference in January of 2010. Even while back home in Royal City for winter break he worked tirelessly on the planning and budgeting for the event.

Valle will graduate from the UNT in August with a Bachelor of Science in real estate. He plans to return home for a while and help his father, Ray Valle II, with his trucking business.

"I'll work with him until the end of the harvests, then sit down and figure out what's next," he said.

That probably won't be hard to do. His high school and college experiences demonstrate he's a leader.