Edward P. Meza
Bio

1988 – 1993
He started his museum career at the Red River Historical Museum in Sherman, Texas as Executive Director from 1988 to 1993. While in Sherman, Meza was selected to participate in a Museum Leadership Program at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C. He also served as President of the Northeast Museum Association, Member-at-Large of the Texas Association of Museums, Chair of the Grayson County Historical Commission and President of the Grayson County Historical Society.  He was recognized for creating the first exhibition on the African American history of Grayson County and for starting the first archives of its kind in the County. Meza also served as a museum consultant for regional museums.

1993 – 1995
From 1993 to 1995, Meza worked as Curator of Education and Programs for the African American Museum at Fair Park in Dallas, Texas. He continued to be president of the Northeast Texas Museum Association as well as Member-at-Large for the Texas Association of Museums (TAM). He was involved in producing a TAM publication titled “Multiculturism in Museums”, which was used nationwide as a guide for other museums coping with multicultural issues.

1995 – 1996
From 1995 – 1996, Meza served as Executive Director for the Webb County Historical Foundation in Laredo, Texas.  Meza also served as the Chair of the Webb County Historical Commission and was a member of The Los Caminos Del Rio Corridor organization. Meza created the Ranching Heritage Festival and Founders Day Celebration. He was a member of the Laredo Downtown Historic Preservation Board and created the Downtown Façade Rehabilitation Program which helped businesses in the historic district restore their facades. He also was involved with the creation of the Laredo Historic District Guidelines.

1996 to present day
In 1996, Meza accepted the position of Director of Historical Preservation for the City of Port Isabel.  He serves as Museums Director, Downtown Heritage Officer, and Port Isabel Special Events Coordinator.  He managed the completion of the Port Isabel Historical Museum, worked with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department during the restoration of the Port Isabel Lighthouse in 2000, and designed the Treasures of the Gulf Museum. He served as President of the Cameron County Historical Commission for 5 years, currently serving as Treasurer; served as Secretary, Vice-president, and President of the Los Caminos Del Rio organization; and currently is President of the Museum Association of South Texas. He is a charter member of the Texas Tropical Trails program and serves as a consultant for other museums. He created the ordinances for Port Isabel Historic District and the Design Guidelines for Historic Preservation. Under his direction, events were created including the Lighthouse Market Day in the Fall, the Queen Isabella Market Day in the Spring, Lighthouse Establishment Cinema in the Summer months, and Telling Our Stories, a oral history program presented the last Thursday of each month for the past 8 years. He is active in promoting Port Isabel as tourist destination.