PASSIONS AND STRENGTHS OF THE ALVAREZ WOMEN

Hello everyone out there in Alvarez land. For those relatives who I have not met, My name is Rose Marie Alvarez Tarlton, first daughter and second oldest of four children born to Alfonso and Rosa Cortez Alvarez. For those who know me it's good to see everyone coming together during meetings, family gatherings and through the stories that we are sharing with one another on our website. I would like to congratulate TERRI ELIZABETH ALVAREZ LOPEZ on her accomplishments as an athlete.

I am sure that she has had her ups and downs in the strength enduring sports as I had when I was younger and competing in nontraditional sports for women. I myself competed in women's track as a freshman in high school. In the early 70's women's track was not recognized under the U.I.L. association. Yet my passion for the sport did not stop.

My events were SHOT PUT and DISCUS. U.I.L. finally adopted the sport and I got after it for the next four years of high school. Upon graduating my accomplishments in Track and Field were 1st in our District, 1st or 2nd in our region and 1st or 2nd at the state meets. After high school I started competing in the sport of Coed Power Ball (volleyball). Stayed in that sport for 10 years. Poor Mom she had no more room in the living room for my trophies.

In the early 80's at the age of 32 I was bitten by the Armwrestling Bug. Now at this age you would think that I would be settling down as I am a mother of two children, a daughter, Rosalyn Marie Tarlton and a son, José Alfonso Davila the 3rd (Joey). But my passion for strength enduring ports calls to me and I find myself once again dancing with competition to make my mark in sports.

ARMWRESTLING in the 80's was a sport that was sweeping the nation and has now become a very popular sport thanks to Sylvester Stallone. I joined the sport as a pastime and a hobby, it wasn't too long after that I actually started following the Amateur Tournaments through the city of San Antonio and the state of Texas. Before I realized I went from an amateur status to Professional. I am proud to say that during this time I was the only Hispanic female in the sport and did compete under my maiden name "ALVAREZ".

I stayed in the Pro circuit from 1983 to 1985. I competed in several of the "OVER THE TOP "tournaments sponsored by GM and Sylvester Stallone, I placed second in one of these tournaments. First place would have landed me a part as an extra in the movie "OVER THE TOP". In 1986 I retired from the sport due to major surgery. My father stated to me after the surgery that I would be okay because the doctor had taken all the "diablos 'out. To my surprise my gall bladder, a small tumor and my appendix had been removed all at the same time. It was a hard blow on my armwrestling career yet stepping away from it I can say that I did pretty darn good.

I retired holding the City of San Antonio title, second in the state of Texas and third in the Nation and if not for the surgery I would have had a shot for a World Title. I find myself smiling at this memory because Mom has those trophies at the house and Dad would just shake his head and fuss at me about settling down and that I should act like a lady and a Mom. Looking back and visualizing I would just giggle as I walked into the house and calling out to dad and say "Apa...mira...mira lo que me gane!' and showing off the monetary prize with the Trophy I had in my possession. All happy i would leave the trophy there and be on my merry way to San Antonio since this is my home away from home (New Braunfels,Tx). Many times my older brother "Big AL" Alfonso P. Alvarez Jr. would get the heat from dad because of my adventurous and free spirited nature. Al kept trying to make dad understand that my passion for sports was one area in my life that no one would be able to tame or take away from me, again I find myself giggling in a warm way as I think back to this because I can see my dad walking off throwing his hand up in the air in defeat.

In closing this story I hope that we the ALVAREZ women continue to follow the Passion that we carry within the many Strengths that we are blessed with, be it physical or spiritual we are Who we are.

Respectfully Yours,

Rose Marie Alvarez Tarlton

San Antonio, TX

Rose Marie