Tiger Band Notable Alumni
Luis "Chico" Portillo
Luis “Chico” Portillo is currently the Director of Fine Arts for the Liberty Hill Independent School District. Over the course of his 34-year tenure in both Pflugerville and Bastrop ISDs, he helped shape fine arts programs for thousands of students.
Before his administrative career, Chico dedicated 21 years to teaching band at the middle and high school levels. His bands were celebrated for their excellence, earning countless UIL Sweepstakes and "Best in Class" awards. Most notably, the John B. Connally High School Marching Band from Pflugerville ISD earned a bronze medal in 2003 and a silver medal in 2007 at the UIL 4A State Marching Band Contest. In his twelve years as the head of the Connally High School band program, 48 students advanced to become TMEA All-State Band and Orchestra members. He was named John B. Connally’s Teacher of the Year in 2008.
In January of 2016 he retired from the Pflugerville ISD and began coordinating the EPHS Alumni Marching Band for the EPHS Centennial Celebration. It was a memorable event for all Tiger Pride members past and present. Along with rehearsing and performing at halftime of the Centennial Celebration, the Alumni Band contributed funds to the EPHS Band to provide needed equipment for their band program.
In 2017, the Performing Arts Center at John B. Connally High School was named in his honor in recognition of his profound impact on the Pflugerville ISD community as both a teacher and administrator, and for the outstanding achievements of his band students. This tribute stands as a lasting symbol of his service and the legacy he built.
He has contributed his expertise to various UIL and Texas Music Educator Association committees and served on the Board of Directors for the Texas Bandmasters Association where he was president in 2018. A graduate of the University of Texas at Austin and Concordia University Texas, he is passionate about the importance of education in the lives of children. He attributes his successful career to his educational experiences at El Paso High School, his band directors, and his family and friends.
He is proud to be from El Paso and remains committed to representing the city and El Paso High School throughout his travels across the state and country. He would like to thank the many great teachers at El Paso High School for their passion, vision, and care in providing a healthy learning environment where students felt they belonged and could achieve excellence.
He lives in Austin with his wife, Reagan, and they are the proud parents of three children and one granddaughter. While he has built his life and career in Central Texas, he still considers El Paso home. He visits frequently to spend time with his mother and extended family, and enjoys keeping up with many of his friends from his youth. He graduated from El Paso High School in 1982.