Rio Grande Valley Oral Histories
Please note that many oral history interviews may be difficult to hear due to the recording environment and technology available at the time of their original recording.
Please contact Special Collections & Archives for questions, email us.
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Interview with Severa Ruelas
Severa Ruelas and Mary Elva Salas
Severa Ruelas was born in 1908 at San Julian, Jalisco, Mexico.
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Interview with Howard Leroy Rust - Part 01
Howard Leroy Rust and Robert Everett Norton
Howard Leroy Rust was born in 1922 in Grove City, Pennsylvania. Part 1 of 2.
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Interview with Howard Leroy Rust - Part 02
Howard Leroy Rust and Robert Everett Norton
Howard Leroy Rust was born in 1922 in Grove City, Pennsylvania. Part 2 of 2.
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Interview with John Rutoskey
John Rutoskey and Corina Cantu
John Rutoskey was born in 1892 in Nuevo Leon, Mexico. He tells of family background and life as a Polish-Mexican.
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Interview with Roy Lester Ryde
Roy Lester Ryde and Guadalupe Martinez
Roy Lester Ryde was born in 1908 at Huron, South Dakota. He talks about property ownership in the Alamo area.
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Interview with Jose Saenz
Jose Saenz and Edula Ramirez
Jose Saenz was born in 1908 at La Grulla, Texas.
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Interview with Antonia Salinas
Antonia Salinas and Arculana Garcia
Antonia Salinas was born in 1909 in Nuevo Leon, Mexico. She talks about working on a farm planting cotton and crossing the Rio Grande River near Camargo.
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Interview with Marcos Saucedo
Marcos Saucedo and Frank Flores
Marcos Saucedo was born on 26 April 1914 in San Luis Potosi, Mexico and grew up in Zacatecas.
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Interview with Wendell T. Schwarz - Part 01
Wendell T. Schwarz and Denice Leslie Kemp
Wendell T. Schwarz was born in 1907. He relates his family history and how his parents migrated to America. He also talks about the American Rio Grande Irrigation Company. Part 1 of 2.
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Interview with Wendell T. Schwarz - Part 02
Wendell T. Schwarz and Denice Leslie Kemp
Wendell T. Schwarz was born in 1907. He relates his family history and how his parents migrated to America. He also talks about the American Rio Grande Irrigation Company. Part 2 of 2.
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Interview with Ann Seildick
Ann Seildick and Robert Andrew Nelson
Ann Seildick was born in 1904 in Minnesota. She talks about the educational system, morality, and the differences between the attitudes of the past and present society.
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Interview with Mary Seildick
Mary Seildick and Robert Andrew Nelson
Mary Seildick was born in 1901 in Minnesota. She talks about her education and becoming a nun.
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Interview with Gregory Selber
Gregory Selber and Kristen Weischedel
Dr. Gregory Selber, a local sports writer and communication professor at UTRGV, talks about his experiences and other subjects about sports in the Rio Grande Valley. He begins by discussing his childhood interest in sports and that he always knew he would end up with the profession he has. Born and raised in Austin, Texas, Selber always considered himself a journalist. He was the editor of the yearbook and school newspaper in junior high and high school. In 1984, Selber attended Texas Christian University to play football, and ended up working with the school newspaper and the yearbook. He discusses his internship at the Fort Worth Star Telegram, and his job with The Valley Morning Star in Harlingen starting on July 23rd, 1989. Selber goes on to discuss various sports journalism jobs he had in the Rio Grande Valley, including some on television. Selber recalls returning to graduate school, and why he chose to do so, and returning to the Rio Grande Valley as an assistant professor. He talks about his various publications and his reasons for writing the way that he does, and the topics that he wrote about. Selber then spends some time reflecting on what he loves about sports, and what makes the Rio Grande Valley unique and how the valley benefits from sports culture. He discusses some memorable interviews he conducted and his favorite sports stories.
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Interview with Narcisa Serna
Narcisa Serna and Pablo Cantu
Narcisa Serna was born in 1917 in Zapatal, Tamaulipas, Mexico. She talks about the annual arrival of gypsies in Reynosa during the 1940's.
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Interview with James R. Shawn - Part 01
James R. Shawn and Robert Everett Norton
James R. Shawn was born in 1906. Part 1 of 3.
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Interview with James R. Shawn - Part 02
James R. Shawn and Robert Everett Norton
James R. Shawn was born in 1906. Part 2 of 3.
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Interview with James R. Shawn - Part 03
James R. Shawn and Robert Everett Norton
James R. Shawn was born in 1906. Part 3 of 3.
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Interview with Lucio Sierra
Lucio Sierra and Miguel Torres
Lucio Sierra was born in 1913 in Yerbabuena (ranch), San Luis Potosi, Mexico.
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Interview with Andres Silva
Andres Silva and Betty Lou Garza
Andres Silva was born in 1893 in Camargo, Mexico. He talked about the Civil War and growing up.
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Interview with William Smid - Part 01
William Smid and Robert Everett Norton
Part 1 of 3.
- 00:00 - Introduction
- 00:52 - Father, mother, birth and childhood.
- 07:00 - Parent's farming practices.
- 07:37 - Caring for horses and farming.
- 27:36 - School.
- 30:20 - German language and community, speaking English in school, and bilingual education.
- 37:34 - Transitioning to high school.
- 39:42 - College and teaching.
- 44:47 - The late 20's and a "running away".
- 59:00 - Picking cotton.
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Interview with William Smid - Part 02
William Smid and Robert Everett Norton
Part 2 of 3.
- 00:00 - 1929 and trying to get a job, and stories related to working.
- 15:47 - Getting injured and spending time in the hospital.
- 20:55 - Back at work and gambling.
- 22:39 - Returning home.
- 30:21 - Teaching.
- 37:30 - After teaching, hauling gravel, Texas Chiropractic College and work as a chiropractor.
- 55:10 - Walking club.
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Interview with William Smid - Part 03
William Smid and Robert Everett Norton
Part 3 of 3.
- 00:00 - Continued from part 02
- 15:07 - World War II.
- 29:30 - Marriage.
- 30:20 - After the war, moving to St. Louise and having a son.
- 38:10 - 1949, moving to the Rio Grande Valley.
- 47:47 - Flying equipment changes, buying an airstrip and pesticides.
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Interview with Howard Smith - Part 01
Howard Smith and Robert Everett Norton
Howard Smith was born in 1905. He talks about the hurricane damage in Galveston, life in the early days of San Benito, the development of Alamo and San Juan. Part 1 of 2.
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Interview with Howard Smith - Part 02
Howard Smith and Robert Everett Norton
Howard Smith was born in 1905. He talks about the hurricane damage in Galveston, life in the early days of San Benito, the development of Alamo and San Juan. Part 2 of 2.
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Interview with Ida Elnora Smith - Part 01
Ida Elnora Smith and Carole B. Turner
Ida Elnora Smith was born in 1910 in Amarillo Texas. She talks about family, homes and life in McAllen from 1929 to the present. Part 1 of 2.
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Interview with Ida Elnora Smith - Part 02
Ida Elnora Smith and Carole B. Turner
Ida Elnora Smith was born in 1910 in Amarillo, Texas. She talks about family, homes and life in McAllen from 1929 to the present. Part 2 of 2.
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Interview with W.H. Spinks - Part 01
W. H. Spinks and Larry William Clubb
W.H. Spinks was born in 1917 in Lemory, Texas. Part 1 of 2.
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Interview with W.H. Spinks - Part 02
W. H. Spinks and Larry William Clubb
W.H. Spinks was born in 1917 in Lemory, Texas. Part 2 of 2.
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Interview with George Strohmeyer - Part 01
George Strohmeyer and Robert Everett Norton
George Strohmeyer was born in 1897. Part 1 of 2.
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Interview with George Strohmeyer - Part 02
George Strohmeyer and Robert Everett Norton
George Strohmeyer was born in 1897. Part 2 of 2.
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Interview with Lula Eugene (Gene) Stroud
Lula Stroud and Sean Visintainer
Lula Eugene "Jean" Stroud (nee Williams) is one of the oldest surviving community members to live through segregation in McAllen, TX. She discusses how her parents moved to Rio Grande Valley from East Texas in the wake of the Great Depression. She talks about growing up in this area, her attendance at the Booker T. Washington School in McAllen, Texas, what is was like to live in South Texas during segregation, and many other aspects of African American life between 1930s-present day.
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Interview with Beulah Bell Stuart
Beulah Bell Stuart and Crystal Maria Cantu
Beulah Bell Stuart was born in 1901 in Concrete, Texas.
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Interview with Josefa G. Suarez
Josefa G. Suarez and Oscar G. Rodriguez
Josefa G. Suarez was born in 1922 in San Juan, Texas.
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Interview with David J. Sweeten - Part 01
David J. Sweeten and Robert Everett Norton
David J. Sweeten was born in 1919 in El Paso, Texas. He talks about settling in the Valley in 1946 after being discharged from the Army Air Corps. Part 1 of 2.
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Interview with David J. Sweeten - Part 02
David J. Sweeten and Robert Everett Norton
David J. Sweeten was born in 1919 in El Paso, Texas. He talks about settling in the Valley in 1946 after being discharged from the Army Air Corps. Part 1 of 2.
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Interview with Claudio Tamez
Claudio Tamez and Frank Flores
Claudio Tamez was born in 1929 in Donna, Texas.
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Interview with Dolores Tanguma
Dolores Tanguma and Diana Maria Tanguma
Dolores Tanguma was born in 1916 in Pharr, Texas.
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Interview with Vicente Tanguma
Vicente Tanguma and Diana Maria Tanguma
Vicente Tanguma was born in 1910 in Aldama, Nuevo Leon, Mexico.
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Interview with Benjamin Thompson Andis
Benjamin Thompson Andis and Eduardo Rodriguez
Benjamin Thompson Andis talks about the hanging of a man while he was present, and about his vocation in truck lines. He was born October 17, 1894 in Memphis, Hall, Texas.
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Interview with Manuel Tijerina Cantu
Manuel Tijerina Cantu and Corina Cantu
Manuel Tijerina Cantu talks about the migration of his family into the United states and the history of the family. He mentions Jim and Leo Wells Ranch and Don Pedrito Jaramillo.
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Interview with Jose Trevino - Part 01
Jose Trevino and Ruben Alaniz
Jose Trevino was born in 1918 in McAllen, Texas. Part 1 of 2.
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Interview with Jose Trevino - Part 02
Jose Trevino and Ruben Alaniz
Jose Trevino was born in 1918 in McAllen, Texas. Part 2 of 2.
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Interview with Leopoldo Trevino
Leopoldo Trevino and Lucila Mendez
Leopoldo Trevino was born in 1920 in Los Saenz, Texas.
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Interview with Willie Jones Turner - Part 01
Willie Jones Turner and Robert Everett Norton
Willie Jones Turner was born in 1917. He talks about his early life and education in Houston and at the University and his work in the petroleum industry. Part 1 of 2.
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Interview with Willie Jones Turner - Part 02
Willie Jones Turner and Robert Everett Norton
Willie Jones Turner was born in 1917. He talks about his early life and education in Houston and at the University and his work in the petroleum industry. Part 2 of 2.
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Interview with Francisco Vecchio
Francisco Vecchio and Paula Saenz
Francisco Vecchio was born in 1911 in La Grulla, Texas.
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Interview with Eduardo Vela and Francisca Recio Vela
Eduardo Vela, Francisca Recio Vela, and Robert Everett Norton
Eduardo Vela was born in 1930. Francisca Recio Vela was born in 1899.
Mrs. Francisca Recio Vela (born ~1899) recalls her childhood in early 20th-century South Texas: her father Fortunato Recio, a Mexican-born teacher, postmaster, justice of the peace, and 1890s Hidalgo County commissioner; seeing ox carts and stagecoaches give way to the first train (~1904), automobiles (~1908), and telegraph; learning English in Edinburg after attending school in tiny Havana; and marrying into the Vela family in 1921, who operated the profitable hand-pulled cable ferry across the Rio Grande until the international bridge in Hidalgo, Texas replaced it. Her son, Eduardo G. “Ed” Vela, then detailed the City of Hidalgo’s modern transformation: the 1959 incorporation to protect the bridge from McAllen annexation, early toll-sharing revenue that funded the first police car and fire truck, and his two terms as mayor (1972–1978 and 1982–1986). At the end of the interview, Francisca briefly discusses her maternal grandfather who accidentally enlisted in the Union Army during the Civil War.
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Interview with Margarito Vela
Margarito Vela and Merardo Macal
Margarito Vela was born in 1898 in San Isidro, Texas.
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Interview with Theodoro Vela
Theodoro Vela and Guadalupe Torres
Theodoro Vela was born in Mexico in 1900.
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Interview with Irene Diaz Venecia
Irene Diaz Venecia and Norma Linda Canales
Irene Diaz Venecia was born in 1910 in Las Cuates, Texas. She talks about the early days of Mission, Texas.
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Interview with Lucretia Clara Vest
Lucretia Clara Vest and Johan-Carl Eric Seagren
Lucretia Clara Vest was born in 1922 in Polepaina, Missouri.
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Interview with Robert Vickers Meredith
Robert Vickers Meredith and Johan-Carl Eric Seagren
Robert Vickers Meredith was born in 1928 in San Antonio, Texas. He talks about the early years in the Rio Grande Valley.
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Interview with Antonio Villarreal
Antonio Villarreal and Ricardo Alfredo Villarreal
Antonio Villarreal was born in 1927 in Range, Texas. he talks about his early life, family and job at Tex-Ag Company.
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Interview with Berta Elena Villarreal
Berta Elena Villarreal and Edula Ramirez
Berta Elena Villarreal was born in 1918 in Zapata, Texas.
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Interview with Reyes V. Casanova - Part 01
Reyes Villarreal Casanova and Cynthia E. Garza
Reyes V. Casanova, born in 1927 in Harlingen, Texas, relates her life history.
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Interview with Reyes V. Casanova - Part 02
Reyes Villarreal Casanova and Cynthia E. Garza
Reyes V. Casanova, born in 1927 in Harlingen, Texas, relates her life history.
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Interview with Antonio Villegas Jr - Part 01
Antonio Villegas Jr. and Robert Everett Norton
Antonio Victor Villegas was born in Pharr in 1920. He talks about his grandparents. He reminisces about: farming and vegetables grown, diet, making cheese, education, vegetation present before the clearing for agriculture lands, how jacales were made, people and homes being taken away with river flooding, Rio Grande river flooding, Carrizitos, crossing the Rio Grande on boats, smuggling, and incest.
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Interview with Antonio Villegas Sr.
Antonio Villegas Sr. and Armando Ruben Ramos Sr.
Antonio Villegas, Sr. was born in 1890. In this interview, Antonio Villegas Sr. talks about Los Tubitos Ranch, Aniceto Pizana, Luis De La Rosa, Las Norias raid, Captain W.M. Hanson, land selling, 1915 Olmito railroad derailment, Texas Rangers, Military Highway, Juan Cortina, Jesus Acevedo, ca 1915 burning, and Japanese soldiers who came to South Texas.
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Interview with Charles Waite
Charles Waite and Matthew Stuber
Dr. Charles Waite, history professor at UTPA and UTRGV, talks about the transition from UTPA to UTRGV and the combining of UTPA and UTB. He also discusses how technology has evolved during his tenure.
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Interview with Thomas Benjamin Waite - Part 01
Thomas Benjamin Waite and Robert Everett Norton
Thomas Benjamin Waite was born in 1912. He discusses the lives of pioneer families of Texas as well as his political and professional life. Part 1 of 2.
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Interview with Thomas Benjamin Waite - Part 02
Thomas Benjamin Waite and Tom Sammons
Thomas Benjamin Waite was born in 1912. He discusses the lives of pioneer families of Texas as well as his political and professional life. Part 2 of 2.
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Interview with Wayne Claire Walker - Part 01
Wayne Claire Walker and Tony G. Hyba
Wayne Claire Walker was born in 1916 in Ellsworth, Kansas. Part 1 of 2.
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Interview with Wayne Claire Walker - Part 02
Wayne Claire Walker and Tony G. Hyba
Wayne Claire Walker was born in 1916 in Ellsworth, Kansas. Part 2 of 2.
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Interview with Lucy H. Wallace
Lucy H. Wallace and Jimmie F. Briggs
Lucy H. Wallace was born in 1901. She tells about life in the Valley and her job as a writer and photographer for the Mission Times newspaper.
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Interview with John Robinson Warner
John Robinson Warner and Andy Longoria Perez
John Robinson Warner was born in 1894 in Fort Smith, Arkansas.
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Interview with Adela Weaver
Adela Weaver and Andy Longoria Perez
Adela weaver was born in 1908 in San Benito, Texas.
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Interview with Joe Roy Weaver
Joe Roy Weaver and Andy Longoria Perez
Joe Roy Weaver was born in 1924 at El Venadito Ranch near San Benito, Texas. Judge Weaver talks about the origins of his family. He is Spanish, Irish and Comanche Indian.
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Interview with Julian West and Hattie Mae West - Part 01
Julian West, Hattie Mae West, Pamela Atkins, and Valerie Ramirez
Julian and Hattie Mae West describe their lives in Edinburg, Texas, as members of the African American / Black community. Part 1 of 2.
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Interview with Julian West and Hattie Mae West - Part 02
Julian West, Hattie Mae West, Pamela Atkins, and Valerie Ramirez
Julian and Hattie Mae West describe their lives in Edinburg, Texas, as members of the African American / Negro community. Part 2 of 2.
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Interview with Winifred Wharton Duke
Winifred Wharton Duke and Janis Gray Wood
Winfred Wharton Duke was born 17 December 1912, in Duncan, Oklahoma. She moved to McAllen in 1925. It was a four day trip. She mentions the Great depression, nursing school, her marriage, children, and World War II.
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Interview with Marianne Wharton
Marianne Wharton and Robert Everett Norton
Marianne Wharton was born in 1918. She talks about the history of the Wharton family, McAllen during World War II and advances in nursing and medicine.
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Interview with Kenneth E. White
Kenneth E. White and Robert Everett Norton
Mr. White discusses growing up in Raymondville, elementary education, home and family life. Work in oilfields, WWII US Army service in Europe, higher education. Teaching Raymondville schools, school tenure in Mission, numerous observations on education and family.
- 00:00 - (second half of interview) Has education changed for the better since the 1960's
- 06:47 - Single parent families and the fate of the United States
- 11:19 - Religion in public schools
- 14:43 - The changes in the Mission school district
- 23:37 - Athletics
- 27:23 - No pass, no play
- 29:50 - The value of encouraging post-graduate degrees
- 35:57 - Conclusion
- 37:21 - First half of interview begins
- 38:28 - When White was born and details about his parents
- 45:28 - Land clearing
- 47:28 - White's farm
- 48:16 - What White's home was like
- 51:47 - What school was like for White
- 54:57 - World War II
- 59:53 - Post-war experiences and university
- 1:08:06 - How White managed discipline when he started teaching
- 1:10:26 - Time spent in San Benito
- 1:14:06 - Rumor involving White being a gold miner
- 1:18:25 - The 1960's and Mission Texas
- 1:22:25 - Raymondville
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Interview with Henry Sanford Winston - Part 01
Henry Sanford Winston and Robert Everett Norton
Henry Sanford Winston was born in 1904. He talks about his life and the production process of the oil industry. Part 1 of 2.
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Interview with Henry Sanford Winston - Part 02
Henry Sanford Winston and Robert Everett Norton
Henry Sanford Winston was born in 1904. He talks about his life and the production process of the oil industry. Part 2 of 2.
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Interview with Ronaldo "Ronnie" Zamora - Part 01
Ronaldo Ronnie Zamora and Milagro Hernandez
Ronnie Zamora talks about his role with the RGV Hall of Fame and his own experiences as an editor, writer, and public address announcer.
Part A
00:02 Introduction to Oral Speaker
00:30 Question: How did you first get interested in becoming sports editor, writer, and public address announcer?
00:37 High school experience as baseball manager
02:47 Sports editor at the Brownsville Herald
03:09 Enrolled at UT Austin and worked at the Daily Texan
03:21 Question: Who has made the biggest impact in your career and how?
04:10 Started at Brownsville Independent School district at 1996 as Public Information Officer
04:27 Started at Texas Southmost College in 1990, learned a lot from Dr. Juliet V. Garcia work ethic and professionalism.
05:09 Question: What do you consider your most significant accomplishment in your career?
05:27 Taught work ethics to his children and all his children became writers
06:26 Question: What is your favorite sport?
06:30 Question: Who is your favorite athlete?
06:31 Pete Rose athlete in 1970’s and 80’s
06:37 Question: What are some of your most memorable experiences in local sports?
06:48 Talks about the opportunities to meet and interview famous people over the years
06:56 Question: Do you remember any humorous or unusual events that you witnessed in local sports?
07:11 Ronnie talks about interviewing Mohammad Ali in 1980 when he visited Brownsville
07:23 Talks about interviewing professional boxers Larry Holmes, George Foreman, Don King and Sugar Leonard
07:37 Baseball player Mickey Mantel
08:04 Talks about the visit of Barack Obama and Hilary Clinton to UT Brownsville campus in 2008
8:25 Question: Describe your experience while you were part of the KBOR broadcast team (1985-2000)?
8:40 Talks about Hank Hollingsworth
10:01 Question: In June 2011, you were selected as an inductee for the RGV Sports Hall of Fame award. Can you share your experience receiving this award?
10:10 Talks about being a humbly experience
10:51 Question: What is your secret to successful career as a sports announcer?
11:19 Talks about being focus on what you do, not get emotional but be objective about everything. Being able to handle criticism not to take it personal. Does not believe in stress.
12:13 Question: What was your greatest accomplishment as a sports announcer?
12:23 Pan American as commentator for college basketball games
13:18 Question: Tell me about a situation where you had to quickly adapt to change as a spot announcer?
13:27 Sport announcing is play by play, it’s all add lip, ability to adjust to situations and be able to do it in a professional manner not to panic or get nervous.
14:29 UTB/TSC as commentator for Baseball, Volleyball
15:06 Question: what is the most difficult sports to announce for?
15:31 Soccer because you need describe the action all the time and you are at ground level, no elevation to see what is going on. Soccer was challenging keep it interesting and keeping your audience interested.
16:21 Question: What is the most enjoyable sport to announce for?
16:28 Football, everyone knows the terminology
17:07 Question: Is there anything else that you’d like to add?
17:14 He did sport’s writing
17:17 Talks about interviewing Fernando Valenzuela when he was at San Antonio
18:20 Talks about interviewing Laurel D’Antoni wife of Mike D’Antoni
Part B
00:04 Talk about experience at the Daily Texan and interviewing Darrel Royal -
Interview with Ronaldo "Ronnie" Zamora - Part 02
Ronaldo Ronnie Zamora and Milagro Hernandez
Part B
00:04 Talk about experience at the Daily Texan and interviewing Darrel Royal -
Interview with Ruperta Zumuria
Ruperta Zumuria and Lucila Mendez
Ruperta Zumuria as born in 1904 in Los Saenz, Texas.
