Soy de Duval

(At the end of this month, September 2024, my new book, Duval County Tejanos, An Epic Narrative of Liberty and Democracy, will be available for shipping. Below, I share part of distinguished Texas historian Arnoldo de Leon's Foreword for the book. This is only part of his piece, but it provides readers with ample information to whet their appetite for a good story.  After reading it, I invite you to order your autographed copy at the link below the blog . ) ********** The history of Mexican Americans (Tejanos) in Duval County spans more than two centuries. In Alfredo E. Cárdenas’s survey of that history, people of different origins—immigrants from Spain and Mexico as early as the eighteenth century, joined in the nineteenth century by newcomers from the United States and Europe—descended on land belonging to Indigenous groups, and on that section of the brush country of South Texas sought new beginnings. Frustrating their occupation were numerous problems. During the last half of t...

  El Retrato De Mi Padre Trazar los rasgos me resulta grato  con mente clara y corazón abierto;  pretendo hacer con ellos el retrato que en el alma llevo, de mi padre muerto. Era mi padre un hombre distinguido, casta de hombres en estos tiempos rara; Tenía de la moral un gran sentido,  palabra firme y una sola cara. No era de esos que dicen: "Soy muy hombre,” llenos de vanidad y de arrogancia; de vicios y pasiones no os asombre, se mantenia siempre a la distancia. A veces su actitud fue incomprendida; optó por la prudencia a lo "valiente"  en su apacible paso por la vida  prefirió ser remanso y no torrente. Su temperamento sensitivo y quieto fue en sus horas adversas un abrigo; su bondad inspiró amor y respeto  y nunca supo tener un enemigo Su persona irradiaba simpatía ningún mal pensamiento había en la mente porque estando a su lado sentía paz y tranquilidad en el ambiente Fue el bien, su religión y su creencia, nunca de sus virtudes hizo alarde, huy...

  A new ambo and altar were installed at St. Francis de Paula in San Diego.  Photos by Father James Farfaglia When Father James Farfaglia arrived for his assignment at St. Francis de Paula in San Diego in July 2021, he found much of the 110-year-old historic structure needing repairs. Three years later, under Father Farfaglia’s leadership, the parish is not just celebrating a renewal but a remarkable transformation of its much-beloved church, a testament to the dedication and hard work of the entire parish community, whose invaluable contributions have been the backbone of this restoration project. On Friday, May 31, 2024, San Diego High School Coach Bo Ochoa and ten high school football players installed the new altar and ambo (pulpit), marking a significant milestone in the restoration of St. Francis de Paula. These new additions have enhanced the church's aesthetic and spiritual significance, bringing fresh energy to the parish.  After Bishop Michael Mulvey approv...

  Manuel Esparza scored the lone touchdown against Cotulla in the 1963 opener. By the end of the season, Esparza ranked as the number 10 rusher statewide from all divisions and earned all-state honors. (Photos from Alice Echo News .) Manuel Esparza, Jr, a starter for the 1964 state basketball team, was born May 5, 1946, to Margarita and Manuel Esparza, Sr., whom he shared with his sister, the late Ramona Esparza.   Like most teammates, Esparza attended St. Francis de Paula Catholic School, a vital part and foundation in his life.   “My father passed in the fifth-grade year, and this really hurt,” Esparza recalled.   “I really missed my father and the encouragement he gave me in everything I was involved in.”   Fortunately, his mother, sister, grandparents, aunts, uncles, priests, teachers, coaches, and other adults guided, supported, and greatly influenced his life.   “They helped me stay focused and close to the church,” Esparza said. He move...

On August 7, 1936, the San Diego ( La Voz ) newspaper ran a front-page article about the sighting of the Peltier Comet.  While it was not a total solar eclipse as was experienced this week, the appearance of a comet in the night's sky must have been quite an experience for Duval County residents. The newspaper's translated account appears below. This image is not from La Voz but from a photo taken by the Yerkes Observatory.  For some weeks now, the visibility of the celestial voyage that visits us has been insistently announced. However, very few people said they had seen it. Last night at around nine-thirty, it appeared in all its splendor with a reasonably large volume. It was long and hard until midnight, having been seen by many people, among them the person who wrote this. (The writer was likely Servando Cardenas, the newspaper's editor.)   La Voz (San Diego, Tex.), Vol. 1, No. 33, Ed. 1 Friday, August 7, 1936

  \ Homero Vera, who coordinated the event in Premont, welcomes Cecelio Valerio's "proud descendant," Elodia Valerio Saenz,  to an  event  recognizing the Civil War battle at Los Patricios west of Premont.  Los Patricios are   within the San Francisco land grant located primarily in Duval County but  protrudes  into  Jim Wells County.  Vera  believes that t he  skirmish occurred  on  Jim Wells's side of  San Francisco. (Photos by Gary Welch) by Alfredo E. Cardenas Few people are aware that the Civil War actually had a presence in South Texas, including Duval and Jim Wells County. On Saturday, March 16, the Premont Chamber of Commerce hosted a program to commemorate the only Civil War battle that took place in this area.  Historian Jerry Thompson spoke about the events at Los Patricios. Noted historian Dr. Jerry Thompson was the keynote speaker and presented an informative talk about the battle and those...

  Starters in the 1964 Vaqueros basketball team that played in the state tournament were Carlos  Treviño , Walter Reyna, Tomas Molina, Manuel Esparza, and Lupe Ibarra. (Photos courtesy of Carlos  Treviño  .) Like the rest of his teammates in the 1964 San Diego Vaqueros state basketball team, Carlos Treviño began his academic career at St. Francis de Paula Catholic School. And like the rest of them, he was exposed to various sports at an early age.  Treviño attended St. Francis from 1952-1956 and then transferred to the San Diego public schools in the third grade. He got his first exposure to sports when he joined Little League and played at a Little League Park built at Plaza Alcala by Duval County Commissioner Tomas Molina, Sr. “I couldn't catch the ball, but I learned to work hard at it to get better to be able to get playing time, Treviño said.  In time, he got the hang of the sport and, at the age of eleven, made the All-Star team. At about the sam...

Tommy Molina (#28) with the 1964 South Texas All-Star team that won the Texas High School All-Star game. (Photo courtesy of Tommy Molina)  Tommy Molina led the 1964 San Diego Vaqueros state basketball finalist team, but he and his team members will no doubt give credit to the entire team, including the reserves and coaches. Still, at 6’4 ¾”, Molina was the big man on the court and provided much energy to the squad. During the pre-district games, Molina was the top scorer with 297 points, averaging 17.5 points per game, although the starters played only the first half in seven of those games. Tommy Molina practices for the Texas All-Star game in 1964. (Photo by Alice Echio-News) In the bi-district game against Donna, Molina was the leading scorer with 18 points. At the regional opener, he scored 32 points. In the regional championship game against Sweeney, Walter Reyna and Manuel Esparza each scored 20 points and Molina 18. Molina and Esparza controlled the backboards throughout th...