Angel Recci has been a leader in the Hispanic and Latino communities in St. Louis, following in the footsteps of his uncle, Jaime Torres. (Photo by Derik Holtmann)

Angel Recci came to St. Louis to play baseball, ultimately spending three seasons on the team at the University of Missouri–St. Louis. He stayed after graduation because he had quickly identified ways he could positively impact his adopted city.

“I saw St. Louis as a very green market with lots of opportunities to accomplish anything and everything,” Recci says.

Recci’s affection for St. Louis was nurtured by his late uncle, Jaime Torres, a retired Air Force colonel and influential presence in the local Hispanic and Latino communities who invited Recci along to networking events, board meetings and galas. Meeting with so many leaders to see their work – and more importantly, learn what else was possible – left an indelible impression.

“I have to thank my uncle for my passion to serve the community,” says Recci, who grew up in Puerto Rico before moving to Florida to play baseball. “Most of the things I do now are to carry his legacy. He was a pioneer for almost everything that happens here from a Hispanic perspective, and I feel like he passed a baton to me.”

Recci has served as a committee member, officer or on the board of directors of nearly a dozen local organizations, including the St. Louis Sports Commission, Grand Center Arts District and Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

When Recci heard that Telemundo was expanding into St. Louis in 2022 – this had been the largest metro area in the United States without an affiliate – he knew he would be perfect for the job. Though he didn’t have TV-specific experience, he had spent years acquiring the variety of skills necessary to lead the Spanish-language station. He had worked with numerous nonprofits, he had corporate experience – 11 years at Emerson – and most importantly, he understood the uniqueness and potential of the St. Louis market.

For example, in 2022 Recci saw an opportunity for his company, APR Entertainment, to help the St. Louis Cardinals elevate their existing Hispanic Day at Busch Stadium, called Fiesta Cardenales. Partnering with Ballpark Village, Recci produced an outdoor post-game Latin concert, bringing in well-known salsa singer Willito Otero and his band from Puerto Rico.

Recci feels his experience prepared him perfectly for the opportunity at Telemundo, and the folks hiring for the role agreed; Recci was brought on as the market manager in April 2023. As he’s worked to grow the affiliate from the ground up, he can’t help but think back on his days at his alma mater.

“It was a foundation, the opportunity UMSL gave me,” Recci says. “It allowed me to work for something, and then little by little I started building my own path.”

This story was originally published in the spring 2025 issue of UMSL Magazine. If you have a story idea for UMSL Magazine, email magazine@umsl.edu.