Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), Vol. 32, No. 22, Ed. 1 Thursday, March 21, 1974 Page: 1 of 20
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v.
RIO GRANDE
Serving over 5000 readers over 55 years TPA Award Winning Newspaper
Vol. XXXI No. 22 Thursday. March 21, 1974
Ten Cents
Rio Grande City, Texas
Rev. Peel had a hope, a sketch, a need and now
lie's working on Bethel Memorial...
EDITOR'S NOTE - It's been
sometime now since we set out
after this story. . . to this editor
it means a great deal to have
published it first . . . it is an in
depth view of the work and the
world that surrounds one of
Roma's and Starr County's
great humanitarians. . .Rev.
Richard Peel. When we first
approached Rev. Peel about the
story over six months ago he did
not want the publicity because
he did not want our readers to
confuse Bethel Memorial
Hospital with the new County
Hospital. . . thus we waited, but
it was worth the waiting.. .I^ast
week when I assigned Tissa
Peterson to write the story she
came back with a tremendous
story... we hope you enjoy it. ..
raul trejo.
on editorial...
I Que pasa, Gohernador?
Governor Dolph Briscoe seems to be playing a dangerous game.
For more than three months he has refused to fill ihe vacancy to
the office of district attorney of the 229th Judicial District. This
dilly-dallying action in itself shows weak, ineffectual thinking. But
certain reports heard in our South Texas area give credence to the
fact that the governor will not make an appointment until after the
May Primary Election to be held May 4. In other words, the
governor will grind all criminal court proceedings to a halt for
more than five months. The question is: WHY?
Yes ... Why? Especially when he has only one clear choice in the
matter - the appointment of F.A. (Pancho) Cerda of Hebbronville,
the most qualified candidate in the race and the only candidate that
is completely independent and free from the backing of any of the
political machines of the district. Is it that the governor is holding
back the appointment until after the election to keep the three
counties in the judicial district in political check if not in bondage to
him in his own race for governor?
We are not accusing the governor of political coercion although
we are very well acquainted with this cruel political ploy. Political
blackmail has been a very common practice in the history of
border politics in our area for generations. But although it might
have worked in the past, just as sure as there are little green ap-
ples, it won't work today, at least, not for long. The people are too
smart and more enlightened. The news media is more extensive,
more alert and certainly more aggressive. The people will be told
the truth and this same truth will keep them free... and if not free,
will set them free.
(hie thing does puzzle us. The fact that some of the political
bosses of the area have known for some time that no appointment is
forthcoming soon. Do they know something we don't? How come
District Judge O.P. Carrillo of Duval County has not set any
criminal cases in his docket until after the democratic primary?
Does he know something we don't?
And one thing we want to ask the governor. Who does he think he
he is helping by withholding an appointment now. Certainly not the
free, independent people of our district. But most certainly the
political machines that have given our South Texas area a most
sordid pchtical image... and are continuing to do so. Just read the
newspapers, hear the radio or watch television.
Does tne governor want to be accused of trading his good name
for the vote of the Duval County political machine? The fact is, if he
does not make an honest appointment now, in the eyes of many
people the color of the white charger he is supposed to be riding will
suddenly turn to a dirty grey.
Raul Trejo
by TISSA PETERSON
Herald Staff Writer
Among the rolling hills of
Starr County sits a dream. . . a
dream of a hospital. . . but not
just a hospital, it must be one
that serves those in a neigh-
boring country one that will be
build on the hopes and services
of many, many people. . . thus
the Bethel Memorial Hospital is
being planned by Bethel
Mission, Inc., of Roma, founded
by the Reverend Richard T.
Peel. Bethel Mission, Inc.,
which began with a small
chapel in 1950, has grown to
include the i n t e r d e-
nominational Bethel Mission
Church, Bethel Grade School, a
printing shop, and various
apartments and houses for
teachers and co-workers. The
Bethel Mission charter has
recently been extended to in-
clude a hospital operation, and
a special board has been
established to direct promotion
and construction.
The purpose of organizing
and planning the construction of
Bethel Memorial Hospital is to
fill a need of long standing. The
Ramirez Memorial Hospital
located in Roma has for many
years met the medical needs of
the people of the area. But this
facility will be closed when the
hospital near Rio Grande City is
opened, creating a more intense
need for medical facilities for
the people of the Roma area.
The planned hospital will
serve the 35,000 people living in
the four principal cities of
Roma, Texas, and Ciudad
Miguel Alernan, Ciudad Mier,
and Nueva Ciudad Guerrero,
Mexico and surrounding areas
on both sides of the Rio Grande
River. Without the present
hospital facilities in Roma
available, there will be only
small, private clinics in the
Mexican cities to attempt to
meet the needs of the people in
the area.
Bethel Memorial Hospital
will have an initial capacity of
25 beds and will be a state-
licensed hospital, built under
the supervision of the State
Dept. of Public Health in
Austin. Contact is being ma^p
with doctors, nurses, and other
professional personnel who
have expressed interest in the
project in order to form the
tentative medical staff which
will be operating the hospital
when constructed.
The Reverend Peel first
became concerned about for-
ming a mission hospital in
Roma about three and a half
years ago. It seemed to be an
impossible undertaking, but
since that time a 3.81 acre tract
of land on the hill below and to
the West of the Rau-Con Motel
has been purchased from Raul
Pena of Roma. The hospital
grounds are located behind the
Bethel Grade School.
The architectural firm of Zeb
Rike and Dan Ogden of McAllen
is drawing up plans for the
grounds and the building
layout. The hospital will face a
60 foot street in front, running
North and South, and will have
adequate parking space
provided.
Site improvements and
preliminary construction have
already begun. Bill Best of
Roma volunteered his services
last spring and levelled the
land. Construction on the front
retaining walls was begun in
February when a group of
cement construction men from
Chicago donated their time and
efforts to start the construction.
This preliminary work is
necessary to prevent erosion of
the dirt that was moved when
the land was leveled. Retaining
walls at the front and back of
the hospital grounds, as well as
ramps up to the hospital floor
level are all site improvements
that can be done before the
hospital construction is begun.
All of the preliminary work is
being financed by friends and
organizations from outside the
area who have given donations
specifically for this part of the
project.
The Bethel Memorial
Hospital, which is not seeking
any government assistance,
will be built completely from
donated time, labor, and funds.
Many people from across the
see PEEL page 20
Chamber to install
new officers...
State Senator John Treager
will be the guest speaker at the
annual Rio Grande City-
Chamber of Commerce In-
stallation of officers banquet to
be held at the Rio Grande City
Multi-Purpose Center this
Friday night.
The program will open with a
fellowship hour at 8 p.m. In-
stallation of officers will be
conducted by F.I,. Niederjohn
and John Pope III will introduce
Treager.
Officers to be installed are
Richard Gutierrez, president;
Charles La Grange, vice-
president ; Charles Richmond,
treasurer; Kenneth Anderson,
secretary; Richard Ceballos,
Immediate Past President;
Arnoldo Zarate, Director;
Eliseo Smith, Director; Nar-
cisco Cantu, Director and
Ramiro Guerra, publicity.
The public is urged to attend.
(
Bethel Memorial Hospital
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Trejo, Raul. Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), Vol. 32, No. 22, Ed. 1 Thursday, March 21, 1974, newspaper, March 21, 1974; Rio Grande City, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth194451/m1/1/: accessed April 24, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Rio Grande City Public Library.