On Trinity Campus - Abram “June” Dominguez

Abram "June" Dominguez

Half a century ago, Trinity University looked very different. The campus had fewer buildings, fewer trees, and fewer employees. One of those workers – Abram “June” Dominguez – experienced a perfect trifecta in 1958. In that year, he took a job at Trinity, married his wife Eulalia, and became a father. He’s been at Trinity ever since, helping to transform the University from an abandoned quarry to a lush urban academic park. In late September, he was honored for 50 years of service.

“June,” short for “Junior,” says he was the ripe ol’ age of “18 ½” and had been working as a fry cook when, seeking better employment, he took the advice of a brother who was a painter at Trinity and who encouraged him to apply for a campus position. One of seven employees assigned to what became known as the Physical Plant, Mr. Dominguez spent his first day on the job digging a trench for underground water pipes in front of Murchison residence hall. He later mowed grass and dug more trenches for underground electricity and telephone lines. He also learned to trim trees, repair sprinkler systems, and build sidewalks and fences. In six short years, he was promoted to supervisor, and began to oversee excavation of limestone from the quarry that preceded Trinity. “The contractor would do the excavation and we would haul it to where the football field is now,” he recalls. “Mr. (E.M.) Stevens (for whom the football field is named) loaned us his bulldozer from his ranch to level the football field. That field was located where the baseball field is today.”

A young June relaxing and playing with the family dog.

Mr. Dominguez played a major role in the growth and expansion of Trinity’s current footprint. He was part of the crew that built the road next to Laurie Auditorium and helped install lush landscaping throughout the campus that features a variety of native trees and shrubs. His team also devoted two years to digging trenches for chilled water lines that ultimately would provide “cooled air” to workers and professors in Trinity buildings.

A bit of rebel spirit lived in “June” in those early days. His boss operated a backhoe, and one day when the supervisor called in sick, he jumped on the machine to learn how to run it. His co-workers warned him not to do it, but he brushed them off, thinking he’d get some experience that might be useful in his next job.

The next job never materialized. About eight years into his work at Trinity, Mr. Dominguez took two weeks of vacation and instead used the time to start a job with the city of San Antonio. “They put me out on the highway doing asphalt work,” he said, curtly explaining that the potential career change was short lived. “I came back to Trinity.” As the years passed, he grew to love the campus and the people, saying he would have left if he had not enjoyed being around his bosses and crew. “I always thank God for my job. The people who worked with me, they are great.

His current supervisor, Mike Schweitzer, assistant director of the Physical Plant, credits Mr. Dominguez for orchestrating much of the landscaping improvements for which Trinity is known, having a great deal of fun in the process, and mentoring younger workers who can take over when he retires, which, by the way, won’t be any time soon.

June Dominguez, at left, enjoys a party thrown in his honor by soccer coach Paul McGinlay, second from left. Also joining the celebration are Mike Schweitzer, with straw hat, assistant director of the Physical Plant, and John Greene, at far right, director of the Physical Plant.

John Greene, director of the Physical Plant who now oversees a staff of 62, praises his “positive attitude and (for) being hard working. He is a great asset to our staff and is a treasure trove of knowledge.”

R. Douglas Brackenridge, professor emeritus of religion and Trinity historian, videotaped Mr. Dominguez for an oral history about his time at the University. Professor Brackenridge also volunteers as a tour guide for Trinity’s Admissions Office and says that he often passes “June” tending to Trinity’s grounds when groups of prospective students and parents are with him. “Sometimes the parents will ask, ‘Are there any problems with Trinity?’ And ‘June’ will answer, ‘Oh, yes. When they come here, they like it so much, they don’t want to leave and go home.’”

Photo of the “smiling June” is courtesy of R. Doug Brackenridge.
Photo of “June” with his co-workers is courtesy of a 24-year co-worker, Adan Garza.