Four years ago, Jerry Edwards, a counselor at Ball High, noticed senior Jesus Torres’ grades were good enough to get him a military academy appointment. Edwards, as he always does, was perusing students’ grades searching for students to assist after they graduate when he stumbled upon Torres’ grades.

“You scored what on your SAT?  Those are West Point numbers. Let’s go talk to Maj. Knight!” Edwards told Torres. The rest is, as they say, history.

2020 Ball High graduate Jesus Torres will become the first Ball High alumnus since 1991 to graduate from the United States Military Academy at West Point in May. It’s an honor that requires a nomination by a US congressional representative, a state senator, or a military service recommendation.  Congressman Randy Weber recommended Torres for the academy.

Torres recently received his Graduation Ring and has branched into Air Defense Artillery. According to the Army, “the Air Defense Artillery is a combat arms branch that defends geopolitical assets and provides maneuver forces with the freedom to move on the battlefield by deterring the enemy and destroying aerial threats, missile attacks, and surveillance platforms.”

Torres moved to Galveston from Eagle Pass in 2019 with his mother and three younger brothers. “He came to us from Air Force ROTC with the rank of major and switching to an Army program he had to start all over,” said Major Mark Knight, Torres’ former commanding officer at Ball High. Within eight months Torres had regained his former rank. “This guy’s a complete self-starter,” Knight added. “He became our Adjutant S-1. He also served as XO.”

Acknowledging the way combat has changed in the 21^st century, Major Knight stated, “I never thought that (Air Defense Artillery) was the way to the top until recently.”

Mr. John Buergler (USMA class of 1995) “It’s been a long time coming.”

Congratulations Cadet Torres!