Rio Grande Valley - Oral Histories
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Severa Ruelas
Severa Ruelas and Mary Elva Salas
Severa Ruelas was born in 1908 at San Julian, Jalisco, Mexico.
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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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Lucio Sierra
Lucio Sierra and Miguel Torres
Lucio Sierra was born in 1913 in Yerbabuena (ranch), San Luis Potosi, Mexico.
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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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William Smid - Part 01
William Smid and Robert Everett Norton
Part 1 of 3.
0:00 - Introduction
0:52 - Father, mother, birth and childhood.
7:00 - Parent's farming practices.
7:37 - 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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William Smid - Part 02
William Smid and Robert Everett Norton
Part 2 of 3.
0:00 - 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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William Smid - Part 03
William Smid and Robert Everett Norton
Part 3 of 3.
0:00 - 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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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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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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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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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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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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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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George Strohmeyer - Part 01
George Strohmeyer and Robert Everett Norton
George Strohmeyer was born in 1897. Part 1 of 2.
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George Strohmeyer - Part 02
George Strohmeyer and Robert Everett Norton
George Strohmeyer was born in 1897. Part 2 of 2.
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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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Beulah Bell Stuart
Beulah Bell Stuart and Crystal Maria Cantu
Beulah Bell Stuart was born in 1901 in Concrete, Texas.
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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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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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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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Dolores Tanguma
Dolores Tanguma and Diana Maria Tanguma
Dolores Tanguma was born in 1916 in Pharr, Texas.
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Vicente Tanguma
Vicente Tanguma and Diana Maria Tanguma
Vicente Tanguma was born in 1910 in Aldama, Nuevo Leon, Mexico.
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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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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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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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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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Leopoldo Trevino
Leopoldo Trevino and Lucila Mendez
Leopoldo Trevino was born in 1920 in Los Saenz, Texas.
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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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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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Francisco Vecchio
Francisco Vecchio and Paula Saenz
Francisco Vecchio was born in 1911 in La Grulla, Texas.
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Eduardo Vela and Francisca Recio Vela
Eduarda Vela, Francisca Recio Vela, and Robert Everett Norton
Eduardo Vela was born in 1930. Francisca Recio Vela was born in 1899.
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Margarito Vela
Margarito Vela and Merardo Macal
Margarito Vela was born in 1898 in San Isidro, Texas.
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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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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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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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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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Berta Elena Villarreal
Berta Elena Villarreal and Edula Ramirez
Berta Elena Villarreal was born in 1918 in Zapata, Texas.
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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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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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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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Antonio Villegas Sr.
Antonio Villegas Sr. and Robert Everett Norton
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, ca1915 burning, and Japanese soldiers who came to South Texas.
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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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Adela Weaver
Adela Weaver and Andy Longoria Perez
Adela weaver was born in 1908 in San Benito, Texas.
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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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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.