Rene Gonzalez is the Artistic Director of Spanish Lyric Theatre–the oldest Hispanic theatre company in the US. His grandparents came from Spain via Cuba in l888 and settled in Ybor where Rene was born and raised. For over 30 years he was a teacher and an Assistant Principal in Hillsborough County.  After retiring in 1989 he has been more involved in theatre and as a guest lecturer as well as an Adjunct at the University of Tampa.

He has been honored by the Queen of Spain, The Spanish Embassy and many local groups having received awards for his artistic endeavors from the Optimist Club of Ybor, The Ybor Lions, the Ybor Museum (Tony Pizzo Award) and the Arts Council of Hillsborough County.  He was also named the HIspanic Man of the Year by Tampa Hispanic Heritage Inc.