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Biography of C.Y. Benavides III

Carlos Y. Benavides III, known to friends simply as “CY,” was born in Laredo, Texas, to Eva Linda Rash Mann and the Honorable, former Webb County Judge Carlos Y. Benavides Jr. Raised in a family rooted in public service, tradition, and community involvement, he received his early education at Mary Help of Christians School, United and Nixon High School. He later attended Sul Ross University, where he studied Wildlife and Range Management—an area that reflects his lifelong love of the outdoors. An avid hunter and fisherman, CY spends much of his free time enjoying nature with friends and family.

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Community and Charitable Involvement

CY has devoted decades to service, volunteering with a wide range of charities, civic groups, and youth organizations. His involvement includes contributions to:

Rio Grande International Study Center
Women’s City Club
Teal We Crown a Cure Fundraiser
South Texas Food Bank’s Empty Bowls Fundraiser
Laredo International Fair and Exposition (LIFE)

Rotary Clubs of Laredo
LULAC Clubs of Laredo
Area Scouting programs
Future Farmers of America (FFA) and 4-H Clubs throughout Webb and surrounding counties
Laredo Organized Volunteers for the Elderly and Disadvantaged (LOVED)

He has also volunteered as a youth coach in basketball, flag football, and organized soccer, giving young athletes mentorship both on and off the field.

Boys and Girls Clubs of Laredo

The charitable work closest to CY’s heart is his more than three-decade commitment to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Laredo. For over 31 years, he has served as a Board Member, Past President, and was awarded the prestigious National Medallion of Honor for his service to the Boys and Girls Clubs of America. He was recently appointed Lifetime Director of BGCL.

In 1997, CY helped establish what has become one of the organization’s most important annual fundraising traditions, the Laredo Boys and Girls Club Wine Taste Gala. The 2024 gala, generated $285,000, bringing total proceeds over the event’s history to more than $3 million in support of local youth.

Professional Experience

CY’s professional career spans business leadership, land and wildlife management, publishing, and infrastructure development. His roles include:

President, Camino Colombia Toll Road, LLC

Oversaw the development and construction of the first privately owned toll road in Texas.

President and Founder, Trophy Magazine

Publisher of a statewide Texas hunting and outdoor magazine.

President, Deliverance Poker, LLC

Manager, Rancho Viejo Waste Management, LLC

Helped develop the Pescadito Environmental Resource Center.

Trustee, Benavides Family Mineral Trust

Manages oil and gas exploration and development interests.

Wildlife and Land Management

For more than 35 years, CY has raised up to 42 species of exotic wildlife—four of which are endangered—and maintains lifetime memberships in both the Texas Deer Association and the Exotic Wildlife Association. He is also a member of the Rancho Viejo Cattle Company, working in cattle, ranch, and wildlife management.

Environmental and Civic Initiatives

CY has supported environmental protection efforts, including work with the Rio Grande International Study Center (RGISC), where he promoted initiatives such as the Laredo plastic bag ordinance.

Awards and Honors

CY’s decades of leadership and service have earned him numerous distinctions, including: