Over the past year and a half, the Rio Vista Farm has received much recognition and one voice stands out as a living bridge to its rich and complex legacy: Kathy Blalock Molinar. A former UTEP scholarship recipient and longtime admirer of Helen O’Shea Keleher, Kathy’s story adds a deeply personal dimension to the legacy of Rio Vista and the woman who helped define it.
From 1983 to 1987, Kathy was the recipient of a scholarship funded by Mrs. Helen O’Shea Keleher, a name revered for her service to vulnerable children along the U.S.-Mexico border. More than just a benefactor, Mrs. Keleher became a friend and mentor to Kathy in the final years of her life. The two shared a touching bond, with Mrs. Keleher often referring to Kathy as her “baby.”
Kathy remembers her with profound admiration: “She was kind, witty, and strong — someone who dedicated her life to bettering the lives of others, especially children.” Their connection was more than symbolic. It was personal, emotional, and rooted in shared values of service, compassion, and education.
Mrs. Keleher’s work at Rio Vista Farm, where she helped care for and uplift disadvantaged youth, left an indelible mark on the borderlands. Kathy recalls how Helen would speak fondly of those she cared for at the Farm, referring to them as her children. Among them was Tony Martinez, one of her most beloved foster sons. A military veteran and lifetime registered nurse, Tony’s education at UTEP was personally funded by Mrs. Keleher , a testament to her lifelong commitment to opening doors for others.
Over the years, Kathy has become an informal historian of this legacy, collecting documents, stories, and memories that span from Rio Vista’s early days to Mrs. Keleher’s broader impact on El Paso. In the Spring 2019 issue of UTEP Magazine, Kathy wrote a moving tribute to her mentor and the border children she championed. She has also preserved original articles, handwritten notes, and even her own speech from a UTEP scholarship banquet in Mrs. Keleher’s honor.
Thanks to a generous $600,000 endowment left by Mrs. Keleher, UTEP scholarships funded in her name continue to support students today, proof that her legacy lives on in countless lives, including Kathy’s.
Kathy Blalock Molinar continues to be an advocate for remembering and honoring the history of Rio Vista Farm. She stands ready to support preservation efforts and share her wealth of knowledge, stories, and materials with anyone dedicated to carrying forward the spirit of this important chapter in El Paso’s history.
“May we learn from the lessons of our past,” Kathy says, “to better inform our future — especially when it comes to how we treat the most vulnerable among us.”- Kathy Blalock Molinar