Bernard Rapoport learned early in life about the importance of giving. His parents, who immigrated to San Antonio from Russia in the early 1900s, sometimes did not have enough money to pay the household bills, yet they would find a few extra cents to give to those even less fortunate. Even as Rapoport worked his way through college in a jewelry store, earning just $40 a month at the height of the Depression, he shared his earnings with his sister to pay for her education as well.
But the trials of his youth gave way to an adulthood filled with success, and his past instilled in him a philosophy of philanthropy that today has touched generations. It's a story he shares in his 2002 memoir Being Rapoport: Capitalist with a Conscience.
Known to many simply as "B," Rapoport grew up 12 blocks from Frio and Buena Vista streets, the junction of what would decades later become UTSA's Downtown Campus, a site he was instrumental in developing while serving on The University of Texas System Board of Regents from 1991 to 1997, part of that time as chairman. Today, he calls the campus a "drawbridge" for the disadvantaged children of the West Side . In his years as a regent, Rapoport also was influential in helping to secure significant funding from the Texas Legislature for UTSA and South Texas ' border universities.
Rapoport graduated in 1939 from The University of Texas at Austin, a school he credits for unveiling his talent for economics. Rapoport began his business career selling insurance. Soon, he opened his own general agency office, and in 1951 co-founded the American Income Life Insurance Co. with a $25,000 loan and developed the company into a multi-million dollar business. After four successful decades, he sold the Waco company, but remains chairman emeritus.
He never forgot the lessons of his childhood, however. In 1978, he and his wife, Audre, created The Bernard and Audre Rapoport Foundation, which has contributed millions to education, childcare and the community. Believing that economics must never be a reason for Americans to go without education, the Rapoports continue to support higher education programs at UTSA and UT Austin.
For his philanthropy, Rapoport earned a spot on Fortune magazine's list of the 40 most generous Americans in 1998. He also was recognized by the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans and has received numerous other honors and recognitions. He has been actively involved in political campaigns and was ranked one of the top 50 political donors for 2000 in Mother Jones magazine. In May, he was honored for his philanthropy at an Austin benefit headlined by Former President Bill Clinton.
Rapoport serves on numerous boards and committees, including the Board of Directors of the Economic Policy Institute, the Advisory Board of the Friends of Cancer Research, the Board of Directors of the Joint Action in Community Service, Inc. and the Board of Directors of the Jerusalem Foundation, Inc.
The University community is honored to present the Gold Star Award (now known as the President's Award) to Bernard Rapoport.