In the United States Army, a single star represents the rank of a Brigadier General. But for Joe E. and Lupe Ramirez, the “star” they would come to celebrate wasn’t just a military rank — it symbolized the incredible journey of their son, Joe Jr., whose life would be marked by resilience, leadership and service.

Ramirez’s story began in a modest neighborhood in Houston, where the future seemed uncertain, and opportunities were few. Born in the late 1950s to Joe Sr., a Korean War veteran and former POW, and Lupe, the youngest of six children from a cotton-farming family, Joe’s early years were shaped by sacrifice, hard work and an unwavering sense of purpose instilled by his parents. Though neither of his parents attended college, they knew the power of education and dreamed of a different future for their son.

What they could not have foreseen was that their son — raised in the heart of a tough, working-class neighborhood — would rise to become a respected leader in the military and higher education, his journey marked by resilience, service and an unrelenting commitment to helping others overcome the same obstacles he faced.

To understand Joe Ramirez Jr.’s success, it’s essential to understand the influence of his parents and the values they instilled in him.

His father was raised in the same Houston neighborhood before joining the Army and serving in the Korean War as an infantryman. During the fierce battle of Unsan, he was shot five times and spent 33 months as a prisoner of war, emerging from captivity weighing just 70 pounds.

Despite the trauma, the senior Ramirez rebuilt his life, trying civilian life before reenlisting in the Army and training as an optician, making eyeglasses for servicemen. His family, including young Joe Jr., spent time in France, St. Louis, Denver and Okinawa, Japan, before he retired and moved back to Houston when Ramirez Jr. enrolled in junior high.

His mom grew up working in hot Texas summers on a small farm in Moulton, Texas, which is a small town about halfway between Houston and San Antonio. As a young adult, she moved to Houston to find a better, higher-paying job, which is where she met Ramirez Sr.

The couple raised their family in Magnolia Park, just East of downtown Houston where they sometimes dined at the original Ninfa's, back when Mama Ninfa Lorenzo still ran the restaurant from her home.

The oldest of four children, Ramirez’s first job at the age of 15 was as a stock boy for the neighborhood Payless Shoe Store making $1.50 an hour. He sometimes did temporary work as a longshoreman filling in at the docks on Buffalo Bayou for union workers when they were on vacation. He mowed lawns, worked as a handyman and learned about construction when he worked for Brown & Root.

“I learned to frame foundations for concrete slabs, and I helped pour a lot of concrete,” Ramirez said, shaking his head. “It’s what made me want to stay in school and improve my situation.”

He attended Steven F. Austin High School, where he played baseball, joined the ROTC program, and was in the band.

“I loved playing sports,” Ramirez said. “My dad’s only stipulation was that if we joined something, we couldn’t quit. It didn’t matter if I wasn’t playing or if I didn’t like the coach, I had to stick it out at least until the end of the season.”

This would turn out to be an important lesson for Ramirez, one that would shape his character in years to come.

“Like many typical inner-city kids, I got into my fair share of trouble and did some things I am not proud of to this day,” Ramirez said. “I wasn’t interested in college, but my parents wanted me to be the first in the family to go. I wanted to be a Marine because in our neighborhood, that was the most macho thing you could do. I wanted to be the most macho badass I could be, and the Marines seemed like the best way to do that at the time.”

That all changed one fall morning when Joe was in downtown Houston.

“I don’t remember what I was doing downtown that day, but I heard a commotion and noticed what looked like a parade,” he said.

Turns out it was the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets march in before a game against Rice University. Leading the way was the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band.

“I played the alto sax in high school and when I saw the Aggie Band, I was hooked,” he said. “I couldn’t tell you where Texas A&M was at the time, but I knew I wanted to be a part of what I had just seen.”

Ramirez’s mom didn’t know anything about Texas A&M either, and the only thing his dad knew was that his Platoon Leader and good friend from the Army, First Lieutenant Mabry Cain had gone to Texas A&M.

Fast forward to August of 1975 – Ramirez loaded his 1974 Chevy Vega Hatchback and headed Northwest on US Highway 290 to begin what would be a long relationship with Texas A&M.

Like many relationships, the beginning was a little rough and took a bit of getting used to.

“I wanted to go home after my first two weeks,” Ramirez said. “I called my dad and I was crying and he told me that I knew the rule – if you start something you have to finish it.”

Not only did he stick it out, but he thrived over the next four years. Along with becoming a leader in the band, Ramirez  joined MSC OPAS and MSC Town Hall.

“I only joined them for one reason,” he smirked. “And that’s because I knew a lot of girls in both those organizations. I joined not knowing what those orgs were even about, but I stayed in them my entire time at A&M. I had a great experience in the Corps, but these orgs gave me the opportunity to meet other people and learn other leadership skills.”

Ramirez recalled a special day for him and his father. When Ramirez Jr. learned about the Corps Plaza Veterans Memorial, he thought of his dad’s good friend First Lieutenant Mabry Cain, Texas A&M class of 1950, who was killed in action on Sept. 3, 1950 — right in Joe Sr.’s arms.

“I found First Lieutenant Cain’s name on the Veterans Memorial and showed my dad the first time he came to visit me on campus,” Ramirez said. “It was a really special moment for us and connected us in a completely different way.”

His dream of being a Marine from just a few years earlier shifted to wanting to be a physical therapist, but destiny had other plans.

At the end of his sophomore year, his car was packed, and he was ready to go home when he got a call on his dorm room phone. It was the commandant’s office requesting for him to come see the commandant before he left.

“I was terrified thinking about what I could have possibly done to cause the commandant to want to see me,” said Ramirez. “I was in street clothes, all packed up, and literally walking out the door. Something made me answer the phone and I’m glad I did.”

Ramirez was offered a two-year Army ROTC scholarship in exchange for four years of military service that day.

“I couldn’t wait to tell my parents I received a scholarship and that they didn’t have to pay for those last two years of college. They had paid for everything, and it was a real struggle for them. It was one of the proudest moments of my life.”

After graduating with a degree in Physical Education in December 1979, it was time to fulfill his commitment to the United States Army.

“I graduated in the morning, I was commissioned that afternoon, and I went off to Fort Sill, Okla., as an artillery officer that evening,” Ramirez recalled. “Just like that I was in the Army as a brand-new Second Lieutenant.”

“When I signed on the dotted line for that scholarship, I signed up to become an Army officer not realizing that that decision at that moment would change the rest of my life,” he continued. “I never realized that I would make it a career. I thought I would do four years and get out, but I wound up staying for 31 years.”

Those 31 decorated years included leading soldiers around the world in positions in various joint operational commands. He was the Deputy Chief of Staff for United States Central Command during Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom and was the Deputy Division Commander for the 2nd Infantry Division in the Republic of Korea. His final assignment before retirement was Deputy Director for Strategy, Plans, and Policy for U.S. European Command in Stuttgart, Germany.

“Seven of my last 10 years in the military I was either deployed or I was serving overseas,” Ramirez said. “While I was serving in Europe, I got an email from a friend of mine who informed me that the Commandant's position at Texas A&M was open. I threw my hat in the ring and said I'll give it a shot, you know it'll hopefully get me back to Texas and back to Texas A&M, where it all began for me.”

In 2010, Ramirez returned to Texas A&M, where his journey had started, as the 45th Commandant of Cadets. The largest collegiate Corps of Cadets outside of the three military academies, the A&M Corps experienced the largest growth it has seen since the early 1970s under Ramirez’s leadership. Not only did the Corps increase from 1,800 to more than 2,550 in 7 years, but the overall cumulative Corps GPA also increased from a 2.6 to a 3.2.

During his tenure, the Corps broke new ground, selecting the first African American Corps Commander and the first female Corps Commander. In addition, he helped oversee the largest number of officers commissioned into the Armed Forces from Texas A&M since the Vietnam War.

In June of 2021, Ramirez was named Interim Vice-President for Student Affairs, before the interim tag was removed in December of 2021.

Consisting of 13 departments, the Division of Student Affairs has thrived under Ramirez’s leadership. The university has more than 1,350 student organizations and provides countless programs, services, and facilities that create Texas A&M’s sense of community.

All Aggies have memories of their time at Texas A&M and of their experiences outside of the classroom. Chances are that those experiences were created through programs and activities offered through the Division of Student Affairs.

“This is my alma mater,” Ramirez said. “This is the school I love and the school that helped me become who I am today. It has been a true honor to have had the opportunity for the last 14 years to help our students be successful and help our university be successful.”

Effective Jan. 1, 2025, General Ramirez will retire after a remarkable 31-year military career, more than a decade as commandant, and three-plus years as Vice President of Student Affairs.

He plans to spend time with Terry, his wife of more than 10 years, and their combined nine children and eight grandchildren. The most recent grandchild, Joe E. Ramirez IV, or “Quatro,” was born in October.

“Never in my wildest dreams would I have envisioned that I'd be sitting in this position right now,” Ramirez said. “I was a poor kid coming out of inner-city Houston who got the opportunity to come to Texas A&M University and become a Texas Aggie. I’m thankful that I did. It completely changed my life for the better.”