Reid Hackney is a graduate of Penn State who has an extensive background in information technology and organizational financial oversight. A longtime San Antonio resident, Reid Hackney has a particular interest in exploring the history of the city embodied in its surviving missions and colonial-era artifacts. The name of the city itself predates its foundation and goes back to June 13, 1691, when a Spanish expedition force reached a sizable river. As described by Father Damian Massanet in his diary, the men arrived at a rancheria of Payaya nation Indians. Their horses stampeded upon arrival due to the sheer abundance of buffalo in the area. Because this happened to be on the feast day of St. Anthony of Padua, they named the place, called Yanaguana by its inhabitants, San Antonio de Padua, and built an altar at the location. A formal settlement was not established until 1718 by an expedition that had governor of Coahuila y Texas Don Martin de Alarcon at its helm. The location was advantageous because it was the only place in the region that offered fresh spring water. With May 1, 1718 recognized as the official founding date, the city celebrated its 300th anniversary last year.
Presently retired, Reid Hackney is a longtime Texas business executive who engaged with A’GACI as chief financial officer and vice president. An avid cyclist with a passion for exploring his local area, Reid Hackney enjoys visiting urban parks and missions in San Antonio.
With French settlements in Louisiana sparking a rivalry, in the late 17th century, Spain established a network of a half-dozen missions across what is now eastern Texas. Several of these missions failed due to disease and drought, as well as changing political priorities that starved them of financial stability. Ultimately, three of the missions were relocated to along the San Antonio River in the 1720s, with five total riverside missions joining the Presidio San Antonio de Béxar.
From the 1780s onward, friction between Mission Indians and tribes such as the Comanche and Apache, coupled with limited military reinforcements, led community members to move to safety within mission walls. Eventually, they were largely abandoned as US frontier expansion came to fore. Despite their prolonged decline, the missions have remained vital cultural artifacts over the decades and are now contained within the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park. The entire park spans 86 mission-related structures across 21 historical and archeological sites.
A retired retail executive, Reid Hackney most recently served as vice president and chief financial officer of the San Antonio-based AGACI. A self-described food enthusiast, Reid Hackney enjoys frequenting new restaurants throughout San Antonio in his free time.A pair of new restaurants owned by a popular TV star will open in San Antonio in the near future. In September, Cake Boss star Bartolo "Buddy" Valastro announced plans to open outposts of both Carlo's Bakery and Buddy V's Ristorante in the city. While an official opening date has yet to be set, construction was scheduled to begin in early October. The Buddy V's outlet will include an open kitchen concept with a wood-fired grill and a menu similar to that of its other locations, including classic Italian-American staples and an extensive dessert list. Prospective chefs at the restaurant will travel to Jersey City to train with and learn from Valastro, while the Cake Boss star will make an appearance in San Antonio for the official openings of both restaurants. Buddy V's Ristorante has outposts at casinos in Las Vegas and Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, while there are over 20 Carlo's Bakery locations throughout the United States and one in Brazil.
Now retired, Reid Hackney spent over 20 years in executive positions for firms including A’GACI, LLC, and Ascena Retail Group, Inc. A resident of San Antonio. Texas, Reid Hackney enjoys visiting the city’s Pearl and Southtown areas to check out the latest restaurants. San Antonio is a hotbed of up-and-coming and well-established restaurants that attract all, from foodies to people who enjoy quality food. Eater has compiled a list of the top restaurants in the city, including:1) Il Forno. Chef Michael Sohocki, a James Bear Award semifinalist, opened his Neapolitan pizza shop with a classic wood-burning oven and seasonal pizzas that take advantage of fresh vegetables found at farmers’ markets. Better yet, Il Forno pizzas are moderately priced - and the happy hour offers a $6 margherita pie. 2) Rebelle. Found inside the St. Anthony Hotel, Rebelle opened to great acclaim, receiving stellar reviews in Texas Monthly and the San Antonio Current. An upscale restaurant, it offers a hybrid of French cooking methods and global flavors with dinner entrees that include seared Scottish ocean trout and roasted Berkshire pork chop. 3) Botika. The unique cuisine at Botika includes Chifa (Chinese-Peruvian) and Nikkei (Japanese-Peruvian) options as well as more traditional dishes updated with modern twists. These combinations result in unusual and tantalizing flavors.
