JOSE RAMIREZ

(El Lobo o El Chief Booster de La Missouri Pacific Railroad)

by Raul G. Garza

I have had a very good and blessed life. I was born in Kingsville, Texas. I have lived at the same address, except for work outside Kingsville or service time. My grandmother was a true pioneer as she came to Kingsville on July 8th, 1904; fours days after Kingsville was chartered as a villa or town.

Besides my grandmother there have been many Mexican American leaders that at the time may have not been recognized as such "por que no se dejaban" because they did not tolerate the "americano system". In other words they were "Meskins troublemakers."

One such person lived on the second house from the corner on 8^th & Henrietta Street. His name was Jose Ramirez, who work for MoPac Railroad. Jose was a tall big husky man. He had a resounding gruff and loud voice.

He was married to Rebecca Alvarez, daughter of Doña Josefa Alvarez. The majority of the Alvarez clan lived on the 300 block of East Lee'. All were railroaders except Rodolfo. Rodolfo was a short stocky man, a Notary Public and the first official Mexican American interpreter at the Court House, especially in court cases.

In the days when Jose worked for MoPac many of the Mexican American employees never knew or understood that MoPac was divided racially, especially in the field of Morale, Welfare, and entertainment for its people.

There was a building located on the corner of 5^th & West Yoakum. It was the MoPac Recreational Hall. Joe Ramirez was in charged of this building and all activities for the Mexican American employees and their families. There was always a big Christmas party for the kids, big Christmas and New Year's Eve Dance with famous orchestras from Kingsville and the surrounding areas. The hall was used for many other social activities as showers and weddings. There was also a building west of the hall which was the MoPac clinic. This building is now the Women's Club Building. The Booster Hall was torn down after the railroad era passed on.

Joe, as the chief Booster for the railroad  for the Mexican American employees had direct contact with many of the big wheels from St. Louis, Missouri. It was a fact that when these big wheels came to Kingsville, they wanted to go to Mexico. Who would ride and interpret for them on their trip? Joe Ramirez, of course.

I believe Joe was the first person in this area who took the youth of the city in tow. He had a great love for Wrestling and Boxing. In fact, he constructed an open boxing arena next to his house. The materials was lumber from the railroad; lumber that was used on the box cars. For many years when Pancho Zapata's Plaza was in session, he had some famous boxers and wrestlers from the area perform. He also sent some young boxers to the Golden Gloves in Corpus.

Joe was also a very comical man. He could come out with some humorous remarks and stories like no one else could. He laughed very roaringly and loudly, but he laughed from the heart.

Joe was also very serious in his politics. He helped sponsor many a "local politico". One thing about Joe. You did not lie to him; if you did you lost a friend forever. The most important thing I remember about his infighting in politics was when they built Gillett Jr. High School. The school zone boundary line was "Jerrymandered."  The line was purposely drawn in a way where most all the Anglos would attend Memorial and the Mexicans would attend Gillett. In other words, kids that lived on the 200-400 blocks who would ordinarily attend Memorial now had to walk to Gillett.

The school district  was sued in Federal Court. Mr. Garcia, a renown lawyer was fighting the case. I went to a town meeting at La Carpa Theatre. The place was full. When it came time for Jose Ramirez to speak, someone said, "Joe you need the microphone". Joe's remark was: "When has El Lobo needed a microphone to tell these Bolios they are wrong and where we stand? They have stepped on the wrong toes. El Lobo will lead our "gente" (people) to victory.

After all these years, I have not forgotten the man, his voice, his laugh, and his sincerity towards his own people. He indeed was a leader of our community. Unfortunately only one Jose Ramirez; One Lobo comes in a lifetime.