The Mercedes Enterprise (Mercedes, Tex.), Vol. 86, No. 8, Ed. 1 Wednesday, February 25, 1998 Page: 4 of 24
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Page 4 — The Mercedes Enterprise
Mercedes, Texas 78570 Wednesday, February 25, 1998
Coach Arnie Alvarez led 1974 Tigers to state play-offs
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Jesus Arnoldo “Arnie” Alvarez, who coached the 1974 MHS
Baseball Tigers to the 3-A state finals, died February 18 in San Benito.
He was 51 years old.
Born August 13,1946 in Corpus Christi, he lived his life in the Rio
Grande Valley. Coach Alvarez was a member of the 1965 Brownsville
High School Baseball team that advanced to the state championships.
He later went on to play for the University of Texas - Pan American
Broncs, on a team that qualified for the College World Series.
Alvarez coached at several schools in the Valley. In Mercedes, he
took the Tigers to the 3A state finals in 1974. He also led the Porter
Cowboys to district titles in 1984 and 1985.
He later served as the Director of Athletics for the University of
Texas at Brownsville, and ended his career as the head baseball coach
at Weslaco High School.
He was a member of numerous baseball associations and dedicated
his life to teaching youngsters as the president of the Brownsville Big
League. “Arnie’s life is dedicated to those who believe that impossible
dreams do come true, and that life’s battles don’t always go to the fastest
and strongest but to those who fight on,” says a spokesman for the
family
Survivors include, his wife, Cathy Cervantes Alvarez of San Benito;
one daughter, Amanda Jo Alvarez of San Benito; and one son, Frank N.
Alvarez of San Antonio.
Also, his mother, Carmen R. Alvarez of Corpus Christi; two broth-
ers, Frank Alvarez III of Fort Worth and Joe 0. Alvarez of Me Allen; and
five sisters, Irma (Joe) Cantu of Brownsville, Rosey Alcantara of
Corpus Christi, Ana Maria (Bill) Seay of Fort Worth, Janie (Bud)
Rosamond of Dolores, Colorado and Frances (Joe) Alvarez of Corpus
Christi.
He was preceded in death by his father, Frank Alvarez, Jr.
Visitation was conducted Friday, February 20, at Darling-Mouser
East Chapel in Brownsville. Funeral services were Saturday, February
21 at Christ The King Church, with Father Alfonso Guevara officiating.
Burial followed at Buena Vista Burial Park.
Pallbearers were Eddie Cerna, Spencer Sparrow, Javier Gonzalez,
Joe Cantu, Bill Seay and Joe Alvarez.
Honorary pallbearers were Frank Alvarez III, Joe 0. Alvarez, Joe
Cervantes, Bud Rosamond, Joey Alvarez, John Gilbert Alvarez and
Eddie Perez.
Darling-Mouser Funeral Home of Brownsville was in charge of
arrangements.
Former players pay tribute,
say coach left lasting legacy
“A Tribute to a Super Coach”
As the news traveled around the state and country to all of the former
players who had the privilege of playing with Coach Arnie Alvarez, his
death was shocking to all of us who new him. Coach Alvarez was not
only a super coach, but more important, a friend to us all.
As he assembled us together that spring of 1974, there was no
getting around it—a trip to the State Tournament was not only possible
but expected. The team had talent; what we needed was the perfect
leader. Coach Alvarez was that leader.
This team knew from the beginning who was in charge and there was
no doubt that Coach Alvarez had put his stamp on this team. This stamp
was to be mailed and sent to the State Tournament as the second
baseball team in Valley history to reach the State Tournament. Ironi-
cally, the first team was the 1965 Brownsville team that featured Coach
Alvarez on the roster.
Coach Alvarez insisted on perfection and discipline. He got the
result. The Tigers finished the season at 21-4 and the state runner-up.
It was a year that none of us will ever forget, and it put Mercedes
Baseball on the map.
Coach Alvarez never wanted to take the credit for the success of the
team, but we as players knew what he meant to this team. He was our
leader. It is true that there were a lot of dedicated parents along the way
that gave much of their time and efforts to the development of this
group. After that season was over, an Enterprise article quoted Coach
Alvarez as saying, “This community is just great. You can’t say enough
about the people here. Not only in baseball, but in all sports and also in
the scholastic program, they support the school and the young citizens
of Mercedes. Anytime our boys needed help, it came from adults in
Mercedes. The people stood behind us. We were always appreciative of
that."
Coach Alvarez, from the 1974 State Runner-up Baseball Team at
Mercedes, we want to thank you for giving us those memories, those
experiences that we will never forget.
We are the ones who should be appreciative of you.
COACH 'ARNIE' ALVAREZ
...Enterprise file photo from 1974
Written by Danny Savarino on behalf of himself and his team-
mates on the 1974 MHS Tiger Baseball Team: Arturo Gonzales,
Alex Lopez, Rolando Moreno, Javier Campos, Ray Gonzales,
Bobby Garza, Jerry Wade, Rey Cano, Juan De Los Santos, Ubaldo
De Leon, Armando Cadena, Reynaldo Trevino, Gilbert Moreno,
George Guajardo, Lee Garza, Gilbert Mata and Albert Ortiz.
Berry reaches 91
; Longtime Mercedes resident Ver a
Berry passed away on Friday, Febru-
ary 13 at the age of 91.
Ms. Berry came to the Valley in
1920 from Oklahoma, and was a mem-
ber of the First Presbyterian Church in
Mercedes.
: She is survived by one brother,
Frank Kenneth Berry of Fairfield Bay,
Arkansas; numerous nieces, nephews
and grand nieces and nephews.
; Preceding Ms. Berry in death were
her brothers, John Roy Berry and James
Alvin Berry.
Arrangements were under the di-
rection of Rudy Garza Funeral Homes
of Mercedes.
PUBLIC NOTICE
PACO’S
I
I Beauty Palace
166 N. Vermont
"For the best service on
your hair, you need time
• and expertise...
Paco‘s has both!"
I Open 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
I EVERYDAY!
Francisco Aldape
Owner & Stylist
! 565-9776
• • • •• • •• • • ROM MAM •
STUDENTS LEARN ABOUT RECYCLING —
Learning first hand about the importance of
recycling are the students in Room 16 at
Taylor Elementary School. Students pick up
lunch bags everyday and package the bags
in boxes. Their teacher, Anita Pineda, then
takes the boxes to the Weslaco Recycling
Center. Students participating in this
recycling project include, from left, Arnulfo
Trevino, Amy Loya, Marc Lara and Melissa
Arroyo, with Bernardo Munoz, ill, in back.
Some
Re-elect
E
AslamA
Hidalgo County DISTRICT CLERK
/ 32 yrs. Experience in
District Clerk’s Office
Stability
45 61. 1 7,
Pete Alone /tone.
Integrity
Honesty
ACCESSIBLE IOALL!
You may vote early now
through Friday, March 6
at Mercedes City Hall.
Pd Pol Adv. by Pauline Gonalez Jose Noe Gonzalez, Jr Treasure 1630 North 10th, McAllen, Texas 78504
"Notices It is a violation of State Law Chap 392.393. Transportation Code: to place this sign in the right of
way of a highway
PUBLIC NOTICE
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
NOTICE is hereby given that
the Board of Adjustment of the City
of Mercedes, Texas will hold a Pub-
lic Hearing on Monday, March 16,
1998 at 6:00 P.M. in the Mercedes
City Hall Conference Room located
at 400 South Ohio, Mercedes, Texas
consider and take formal action re-
garding the following item(s):
Public Hearing concerning a
variance request to the required side
setback. The property is legally de-
scribed as Llano Grande Lake #1
Block 4, Lot 6, Mercedes, Hidalgo
County, Texas. The property is lo-
cated at 163 Durango Street, Llano
Grande Lake Mobile Home Park.
All citizens are urged to attend
the hearing in order to express their
views to the Board of Adjustment
THIS NOTICE IS GIVEN IN
ACCORDANCE WITH V.T.C.A.,
GOVERNMENTCODE,SECTION
551.001 et. seq.
WITNESS MY HAND AND
SEAL, THIS THE 24th DAY, OF
FEBRUARY 1998.
ATTEST:
ARCELIA FELIX,
CITY SECRETARY
2tc-8 •
The Power of the
Bended Knee
Congratulations to:
Travis Reader of the Week
OSCAR RIOS
Fourth Grade
Proudly sponsored by:
Connie Alejandro
Gonzalez
Texas Farmers
Insurance Agent
Life • Auto • Home
Birds go to sleep on their
perches, but they never fall off.
This is because of the tendons in
the bird's legs. They are so con-
structed that when the leg is bent
at the knee, the claws contract and
grip like a steel trap. The claws re-
fuse to let go until the knees are
unbent again. The bended knee
gives the bird the ability to hold on
to his perch so tightly.
Isn't this also the secret of the
holding power of the Christian?
Daniel found this to be true. Sur-
rounded by a pagan environment,
tempted to compromise with evil,
urged to weaken his grip on God,
he refused to let go. He held firm
when others faltered because he
was a man of prayer. He knew the
power of the bended knee.
From sleeping birds we can
learn the secret of holding things
which are most precious to us—
honesty, purity, thoughtfulness, ho-
nor, character. That secret is the
knee bent in prayer, seeking to get
a firmer grip on those values which
make life worth living. When we
hold firmly to God in prayer, we can
rest assured he will hold tightly to
us
—Rollin S Burhans
FARMERS S
INSURANCE
I. GROUP 39
956/565-6997
Pastor Don Brynteson
welcomes you to the
Mercedes
Christian Church
612 South Texas
Mercedes
565-1509
Sunday School: 9 a.m.
Worship Services 10:10 a.m.
• Congratulations, Millicent La Mar! :
I When West Elementary •
■ School recently celebrated the *
■ passing of the first 100 days of •
school. Millicent La Mar •
■ Olivarez was among those .
■ recognized for having perfect •
I attendance during the period. .
I She was also named as a •
I "Student of the Month" in :
■ September. Parents of the •
I kindergarten student are Mr. •
* and Mrs. Alfonso Olivarez, .
, Jr., while her Godparents are •
1 Mr. and Mrs. Umberto Flores, .
Sr. Her teacher is Mrs. Mari •
1 Flores.
CONGRATULATIONS! .
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The Mercedes Enterprise (Mercedes, Tex.), Vol. 86, No. 8, Ed. 1 Wednesday, February 25, 1998, newspaper, February 25, 1998; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1632199/m1/4/: accessed June 24, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Dr. Hector P. Garcia Memorial Library.