Supporting the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo for more than six years, local native Lt. Cmdr. Markel Zatarain, a Reserve officer programs recruiter assigned to Navy Recruiting District (NRD) San Antonio, was honored as an Outstanding Volunteer of the Year for 2017-2018 at the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo Hall of Fame Induction and Awards Ceremony held at the Freeman Expo Hall, Jan. 10.

Joining Zatarain as an Outstanding Committeeman of the Year was Marine Veteran Richard Delgado Jr., director of Military Affairs for Texas A&M University-San Antonio.

The two men were nominated by the Chairwoman of the Rodeo Ticket Committee, Kelly Ross.

“Both Markel and Richard have done some outstanding work on the committee,” said Ross. “They both have passion for our Wounded Service Member Program and volunteer every chance they get to make our programs successful.”

Presenting the awards were San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo Chairman of the Board Joe Soules, Executive Director and CEO Cody Davenport, and President Rusty Collier.

“I am very honored and humbled to be receiving this award,” said Zatarain. “I could not have been more proud of this, even though I feel that I don't deserve it.”

Zatarain credits his volunteerism and dedication to his father.

“My greatest inspiration was my dad, from whom I was fortunate enough to inherit his work ethic, demeanor, love of life, and never-ending pursuit of knowledge,” said Zatarain.   “I want to thank Kelly Ross, Richard Delgado Jr., Mama Joy Turner, James Kinney, and all the committee members. It is truly a team effort.”

Zatarain, along with the other honorees, will be featured on the walls of the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo Hall of Fame for 2019.  

In addition to his rodeo accolades, Zatarain was recognized as the NRD’s 2018 Reserve Officer Recruiter and Diversity Officer Recruiter of the Year during an awards banquet at the Hangar Hotel and Convention Center in Fredericksburg, Texas, Dec. 13. 

For his meritorious service, Zatarain was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal.

“I am fortunate to be part of a great command and [to] be able work with a great crew of recruiters,” said Zatarain. “I have an extremely supportive wife who understands the world of recruiting, and I could not have accomplished anything in my life or career without her support.”

Zatarain is a 1985 graduate of Memorial High School. In 2000, he attained a Bachelor of Science in biology and a Master of Science in environmental science in 2007 from the University of Texas-San Antonio.

He received a commission in the U.S. Naval Reserve in 2011 as an environmental health officer in the Medical Service Corps, and became an officer recruiter in 2016.

NRD’s area of responsibility includes more than 30 Navy Recruiting Stations and Navy Officer Recruiting Stations spread throughout 144,000 square miles of Central and South Texas territory. The Navy’s recruiting force totals over 6,100 personnel in more than 1,000 recruiting stations around the globe. Their combined goal is to attract the highest-quality candidates to assure the ongoing success of America’s Navy.

Get more information about the Navy from US Navy Facebook or Twitter.

For more news from Commander, Navy Recruiting Command, visit www.navy.mil/.