Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), Vol. 35, No. 13, Ed. 1 Thursday, January 12, 1978 Page: 2 of 8
eight pages : ill. ; page 22 x 16 in. Digitized from 35 mm. microfilm.View a full description of this newspaper.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
School-Naming High Note Of Music Career
THE RIO GRANDE HERALD
THURSDAY, JANUARY 12,1978
PAGE 2
Society Editor's Note:
This feature article on
Roqae Guerra, Jr. of Rio
Grande City was wHtten by
Veronica Salazar, formerly
of Rio Grande City, for her
column, "Dedication
Rewarded," published in a
San Antonio newspaper. The
photo is by Marcelo Silva,
editor of the Rio Grande
Herald.
Forty-five years ago
Roque Guerra Jr. was asked
by the superintendent of
schools to start a music
program in the Rio Grande
City public school system.
He took the job for a year
with no intention of staying.
Little did he know then
that some 40 years later
that small school he was
assigned to - known as
West Grammar School -
would be renamed in his
honor.
Guerra's dedication, hard
work and determination to
teach music to youngsters,
who had never been exposed
to music kept him in the Rio
Grande schools for 40 years.
He became the first band-
director of the school
district. On his retirement
in 1976 he was named the
first Mexican-American
"Texas Bandmaster of the
Year."
Today 15 students of
Guerra are leading band
directors in the Rio Grande
Valley and throughout the
state, many of them winning
first divisions in the Annual
Pigskin Jubilee.
Guerra worked hard and
these honors are living proof
of that. During World War II,
because of the lack of
teachers, he not only had the
band orchestra programs
but also took over choir and
physical education.
$35 A Month
His salary was $35 a
month, and he held his first
classes in the basement of
the school. He taught for 15
years, using old instruments
and copying a lot of his
music because there was not
enough to go around. The
budget was very limited.
In 1953 the school was
moved to Fort Ringgold
where the different school
grades 1 to 12 are located
now. During the '50s Guerra
was also instrumental in
starting the music program
for the San Isidro schools.
After 15 years of teaching
the different programs alone
he got his first assistant.
He retired as band
director in 1967 but con-
tinued teaching music for
five years - grades third,
fourth, and fifth - at the
North Grammar School.
Roque Guerra Elementary,
La Grulla, La Union, and
Ringgold primary and in-
termediate. His goal was to
get young kids ready for the
band program. He also
served as counselor of the
NYC for three years.
In 1973 the former band
director was elected county
commissioner for Precinct 1.
Four years later lie deicded
not to run for re-election and
in 1977 was appointed right-
co
2= U
ry. ID Uj
5tU
gl<
< 2
ry mmm
OqQ
u. lu 2
LU <£
£
CJ
•
•
#c
5
—
r-
&
tmm
5—
v
X
C/3
ce
£
3
£
-a
V
«—«■
—O
>
cs
V
'mm
5XJ
£
X
u
'f'Sf#
NEW YEARS BIRTHDAY—Lori Lyn Peterson flashes a toothless grin on her
seventh birthday as she seems to say, "All I want for New Year's is my two front
teeth," She celebrated her January 1 birthday with a party at her home on
Monday afternoon. Seven friends and cousins joined her in celebrating, along with
brothers Kent and Guy. They enjoyed playing games, and each received a bag of
goodies. Chocolate alphabet cake was served with chips, orange sherbet, and sun-
shine punch. Lori is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Peterson. Her grand parents
are Mrs. Ira Higginbotham of Kingsville and Mr. and Mrs. A.V. Peterson of Rio
Grande City, who all helped her celebrate.
of-way officer for Starr
County. Eight months later
he was appointed county
superintendent of public
instruction, a position he
holds now.
The 65-year-old native of
Roma would still be teaching
music if retirement time had
not come along. He grew up
in a very melodic en-
vironment - all in the family
played an instrument.
The third oldest of five
children moved to McAllen
at the age of three and two
years later to Hidalgo where
his mother was the first
postmistress for 33 years.
Guerra's father farmed in
Hidalgo and the children
helped raise carrots and
cabbage and pick cotton.
Guerra remembers doing
this until he graduated from
high school.
He aspired to become a
professional violinist but due
to financial reasons he did
not pursue this career. He
started playing the violin at
the age of 14 and played with
the orchestra in Hidalgo
High School. He studied
music two years in Edinburg
Junior College.
Records
"I recall listening to
records of Fritz Krisler,
Misha Elman and Jasha
Heifitz - famous violinists-
and wished that one day I
could play like them" he
says.
On one occasion while
taking summer school at UT-
Austin Guerra had the op-
portunity to take violin
lessons under Angel Reyes.
In between school years
Guerra obtained his
bachelor of arts degree from
Pan American University in
1953.
Guerra is an advocate of
education. He says a person
should use education as a
stepping stone to success. He
is also a believer of
respecting the rights of
others.
On his retirement Guerra
was honored by the Texas
Bandmasters' Association in
San Antonio; the City of
Monterrey (Mexico) with a
plaque of appreciation; the
I^aredo School band; the
Hebbronville bank; the
Knights of Columbus; the
Lions Club; the Parent
Teachers' Association; and
the Rattler Booster Club. In
1957 he was given the Honor
RABANITOS
PDR CHARLES SCMULZ
(g) 1978 United Feature Synd cal*' Inc
/AY '1 Pe&voue, SEMOPI-
TA'lPA^ECeQUE ME
CDPMf R3P UU QE6UUCD1
-SOAJE QUE ME DIEGDU
UU,A BECA ?f&A LA ME-
OOR UMIV/ERSIGAP
( bue/^DEWUEX
Wo A LA REAL!-]
Aw fK
IwL*
, * f ' UbZ
ISA ACECIPSUE een-
QUAMBUTB FUE EL
MEJOP QUE
HE LEICO
OVtO A LA GE/JTE QUE
Pice "senci LLAM&fiE"
PERO, HE CAM
&1ACD ce pem
€AMIEm)
/cQUlEPeeAODMjYj;
- PAAAP*\E Ce£R]K>p
I \V£ ClA&cb
ME PA£ECe0*iE LOb
ftDP£??Ee OE: LA 026
CUt?\O^Q AAE \/AMA
OJDO (yUB /O PUEOA
R9DTEfiEf?lE 3E LAS
RDPERE6 LA
OBSCUPJPAP
C&ue Pi Ay OedJMMU
CHACHO ce TERC&P
QPAW<?UE-Z>\CaQLlZ
10 QOEe&e 6U REEGLA ?
iff
r i
-.1 —
Si"
& PC £
E€> PAPATI UM GOM-
fi£>OJ£LA..
& -4
v
DICE QUE TB
TA&TE 6<J RE6LA V
Quee#&-
T5 d&oOePTO?
-= / Klo PUE \
I / CULPA
i
f_,„
f/eeftsANwvmoo \
t-A GALLE / PASO LlK)
CAMlO'U EWCIMA tte-
LA RE3LA J:
^ Si
AMOS& ^ VIE/-JE ALCdU
MUO\AC^O / EMPieZA
A HAgURSO0CE aUA
PAPALO
cfa- ) io foPAe
par- Meirn&evoco-
UE? ) ZOO A BU6GARLA
C / 61 -m -) (ty&DUA
TA ^ \ CDU EL
g) UTt Jffiltd
PILE ^E ui estupipa
PEG/lA MO MUBlEPA
6ew\Qj PAPA NACA
DK>PU£S QUE
CAM &I&JAL <Sl£Tt AM
MET? I CO v
/C6PA <HiJA PEGUA oe\
( QDCE PUU3AGJ&S?
g«6 EL MUCAAGHO PE
LA &6CUELA OTRA
\I£Z , QUlEPE *5U
fc&blA _
dLE p|60 QUE LIWGA-
MI0*J LA
I PPE6U^nAl£ \
AGfcPjA TPES R£ -
16LA-Q CtcUATT?D /
V PU \JjAOAcj Jm
d <n if
9 •
, 2, 1 ^ ur,
££ ■ r
(J) (W\
i&jL 1
Service Award by the Ex-
Band Student Association for
his 25 years of service.
In 1967 the Board of
Education recognized him
for his outstanding work in
the field of music, and in 1976
he was honored by the Rio
Grande City Band.
Guerra is a member of the
Knights of Columbus,
member of the Texas Music
Educators Association,
Texas Bandmaster
Association and the Texas
State Teachers Association.
He is married to the for-
mer Ninfa Sanchez and they
have two children, Cesar, 36,
and Ana Maria, 32.
Roque Guerra, Jr.
Girl Scouts To
Hold Meeting
The Tip of Texas Girl
Scout Council will be holding
a basic outdoors skill course
on Sat., Jan. 28, from 9:30
a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the
JayCee Clubhouse.
All the leaders, their
assistants, and interested
parties are urged to attend.
The course will be given by
Ann Ramirez.
Registrations must reach
the Girl Scout office at 500
Indiana, Weslaco, Texas,
78596, one week prior to the
training, according to
Carmen Garza, local
publicity chairman.
Local Women To Attend
Scout Meeting
"Our World of Scouting" is
the theme chosen for the
Annual Meeting of the Tip of
Texas Girl Scout Council to
beheld January 26,1978,7:00
P.M. at the Athletic Club in
McAllen.
Delegates from the Rio
Grande City area are: Irene
Olivarez, Belinda Diaz,
Mrs. Elda Hinojosa and
Socorro Guerra.
Mrs. John Pawlik,
Mission, a member of the
Board of Directors, is
chairman of the Banquet
Committee, and has named
the following committee
members to assist her with
planning the event: Mrs. G,
E. Brandes, Mrs. P. R.
Sheeran, Mrs. Gus DeLeon,
Mrs. I>ewis Pawlik, Mrs.
Tom Weekly, Melba
THE RIO GRANDE
HERALD
The RIO GRANDE
HERALD, Rio Grande
City, Texas is Published
every Thursday by Rio
Grande Herald
Publishing Company,
Inc., James V. Mathis,
President, 311 West Main
Street, Marcelo Silva,
Editor and General
Manager. Second Class
mailing privileges
authorized at the United
States Post Office at Rio
Grande City, Texas,
78582. Subscription
Rates: In Starr Coun-
ty..$4. p r year..Outside
Starr County..$5. per
year. Mailing Address:
The Rio Grande Herald,
P.O. Box 452, Rio Grande
City, Texas 78582.
Telephone Number: 512-
487-2819
MARCELO SILVA
Editor and General
Manager
TISSA PETERSON
Society and News
Editor
487-2819
Ramirez and Mrs. Fidel
Garcia, all of McAllen. Girl
Scouts of the McAllen area
will present a program for
the Council members and
guests.
Representatives from
each community in
Cameron, Willacy, Hidalgo
and Starr Counties are
elected as delegates to the
Annual Meeting...thus
forming the Tip of Texas
Girl Scout Council. They will
be electing officers and
members of the Board of
Directors as well as
delegates to the National
Council.
All Girl Scout adults,
Senior Girl Scouts, parents,
husbands and friends of Girl
Scouting are invited to at-
tend the meeting. Activities
of the past year will be
reviewed as well as plans for
the coming year.
Recognition and awards will
be made for service given to
the Council.
Reservations for the
dinner may be made by
sending your name and $4.00
to the Tip of Texas Girl Scout
Council, 500 Indiana.
Weslaco, Texas.
Slimnastics
Class Set
A Slimnastics Class has
been scheduled as part of the
Community Education
Program. The class will be
held in Garciasville at La
Union School.
Anyone interested may
attend on Mondays at 5:30
p.m. or Wednesdays at 8 00
p.m Instructor for the
course will be Lucia Salinas.
Communication Education
Program Coordinator
Narciso Guerra announced
that a similar class is beirt^
planned to begin soon in Rio
Grande City at North
Grammar School. There is a
small charge for the class,
class
Around town
with tisso...
By Tissa Peterson
HERALD SOCIETY
EDITOR
Broken any New Year's Resolutions vet? What's
more important is whether or not any were made,
whether they have been broken yet or not. The
beginning of a new year often sparks us to resolve to do
some things we have never done, to improve on some
things that we already do, or to stop doing some things
we feel we shouldn't do. This is a form of self-analysis
and self-improvement and a very necessary part of
making our lives happy and meaningful, whether it be
done on January 1, October 27, or whenever. We must
keep trying to evaluate and improve ourselves in order
to grow, even if we fail or "break a resolution". We
can always try again but we are better off for the
trying. "A good resolution for the future is better than
■an excuse for the past."
La Casita Farms gave a Christmas party for all its
employees. The party was held at the La Casita Farms
Shop the Friday before Christmas. Tamales, cake,
cookies candy, arid sausage was served to the almost
three hundred who attended the noon party.
Happy New Year! A little firecracker popped into
the lives of Mr. and Mrs. Juan Rivera on New Year's
Day, 1978. Their baby boy was born on January 1 at
McAllen General Hospital. The family lives in I,a
Grulla.
Mrs. Fela Ireland of Rio Grande City enjoyed a visit
from son Robert N. Ireland during the holidays. He
spent two weeks here visiting with his family and
friends. Ireland was to report at Freeport, Texas on
January 5.
January 4 was a special day for Mr. and Mrs.
Guillermo Garza of Rt. 1 in Rio Grande City. The
couple has a brand new baby girl, born on that day at
10:20. The 7 lb., 15 oz. addition to the family arrived at
Ramirez-Gonzalez Family Clinic. Her name is Norma
Alicia.
Mr. and Mrs. O.F. Guffey of Rio Grande City enjoyed
guests this past weekend. Visiting from Ellsworth,
Minn, was Paul Heronimus, who attends the Pipestone
Area Vocational School. Also here was the Guffey's
granddaughter Julie Neie and her friend Jeff, both of
San Antonio and both students at Texas A&M
University. The guests enjoyed a trip across the border
during their stay.
A Grulla couple are the proud parents of a daughter,
Maria Elva, born at Ramirez-Gonzalez Family Clinic
at 8:10 a.m. on January 4. Mr. and Mrs. Raul Vela are
the parents of the 6 lb., 14 oz. baby girl.
Snow, snow, and more snow was enjoyed by the La
Grange family in Breckenridge, Colo, last week. Mr.
and Mrs. Bone LaGrange, Druanne, David and Linda
Calhoon and David and Nancy LaGrange, and children
Randy and Cari enjoyed cross county and downhill
skiing, and reported that everything was just beautiful
in the winter wonderland.
Pink and pretty was the late package delivered to
Mr. and Mrs. Augustin Lopez. They have a brand new
toby daughter born in January 5 at McAllen General
Hospital. The I/>pez family makes their home in Rio
Grande City.
A special bundle was also delivered to Mr. and Mrs.
David Ramirez of Rio Grande City on Thursday,
January 5. Their brand new baby girl made her arrival
at McAllen General Hospital.
Incarnate Word College alumnus Melissa Walschak
was awarded a U.S. Office of Education fellowship for
1977-78 to continue with her second year of studies
toward a PhD in Bilingual Education at the
University of Texas at Austin. In 1976-77 she was also
the recipient of a U.S.O.E. bilingual traineeship
awarded in recognition of academic achieventnt. Last
year Melissa worked as a reserach assistant in the
Research and Design Department of the University,
She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs Iionel Walschak of
Rio Grande City.
Members and guest at the First Baptist Church last
Sunday enjoyed hearing the testimony of Mike Hughes,
offensive tackle in jersey number 70 with the
Washington Redskins, who will be with the New York
Jets next season. Mike, a native of Denton who at-
tended Baylor, is working with the Fellowship of
Christian Athletes in the Rio Grande Valley. A dinner
was held following the service. The FCA is a mission to
athletes, coaches, and friends of athletics in American.
FCA is a national organization committed to
"Evangelism through Fellowship."
It's a boy! Mr. and Mrs. Ramon Elizondo are the
proud parents of a son. He was born on Friday,
January 6, at McAllen General Hospital. The Elizondos
reside in Rio Grande City.
It's a girl! Mr. and Mrs. Juan Manuel Mata are the
proud parents of a baby girl. She was born on Friday,
Januarv 6, at McAllen General Hospital. The Matas
live in Rio Grande City.
PAIJ Grants Available
t
♦ *
# 9
Six $500 grants are
available for students
currently enrolled as a math
or physics major, according
to Romulo Martinez,
director of the Career
Planning, Placement and
Testing office at Pan
American University.
Awarded on financial need
basis, the grants are
available through the TRW
System Group. Selection will ^
be based on guidelines of at
least a 2.0 average, a math
or physics major and
current enrollment at Pan
Am.
Applications may be ob-
tained in room 116 of the 9
university center and should
be turned in by Feb. 15. For
more information contact
Martinez at 381-2473.
Erck Elected To Board
Fredrick Erck of Alice,
Texas, has been elected Vice
Chairman of The Texas
Methodist Foundation at the
annual meeting of the Board
of Trustees. He will serve a
two year term as Vice
Chairman and as Chairman
and
of the Investment
Finance Committee.
The Reverend Charles E.
Idling is the new Executive
Director of the TMF
Foundation, elected to
succeed Dr Donald E
Redmond,
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Newspaper.
Silva, Marcelo. Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), Vol. 35, No. 13, Ed. 1 Thursday, January 12, 1978, newspaper, January 12, 1978; Rio Grande City, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth194644/m1/2/: accessed April 24, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Rio Grande City Public Library.