Terry Kranz

It has been more than two decades since Terry Kranz traded in his bricklayer tools in the North Richland Hills area to attend the U.S. Border Patrol Academy in Brunswick, Ga.

In those 21 years, the former TCC student has progressed through the ranks of the U.S. Border Patrol in Deming, N.M. Starting at the entry-level position of trainee, he advanced to journeyman and senior patrol agent, and held several supervisory positions before becoming the sector tactical infrastructure coordinator.

Kranz recently was promoted to assistant patrol agent in charge of the Lordsburg Station, the largest area of responsibility in the 125,500 square miles of the El Paso Sector of the U.S. Border Patrol. In his new position, he supervises nearly 250 employees of whom more than 235 are agents.

While in Texas, Kranz said TCC was attractive as a place to further his education because the Northeast Campus was adjacent to the apartments where he lived. "It was very convenient and affordable."

Currently, the Lordsburg Station is leading its sector in narcotic apprehensions by seizing about 48,500 pounds of marijuana and apprehending 1,800 illegal aliens in the last eight months.

Kranz and his staff work tirelessly "to deter the illegal entry of aliens, narcotics and contraband into the United States (as a means of) preventing acts of terrorism," he said.